Pochettino urged the US men's national soccer team to give their all in their opening World Cup match against Paraguay.

The first round of Group D matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup (USA, Canada, Mexico) is about to kick off at Los Angeles Stadium. At the pre-match press conference, US men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino warned that although the US team, with home advantage, is favored by many, their opponent Paraguay remains a dangerous and formidable opponent.

As one of the co-hosts of this World Cup, the United States team carries extremely high expectations for playing on home soil. Pochettino stated that all 26 players in the team are currently available, and defender Chris Richards, who had been troubled by a calf injury, has also returned to the team. The team is in excellent physical, tactical, and mental condition.

However, Pochettino is not taking Paraguay lightly, as they have defeated Brazil and Argentina in the qualifiers. Speaking about Paraguay's coach, Gustavo Alfaro, he said, "I am very aware of their mentality, aggression, and competitive strength. Paraguay has proven how difficult it is to play against them in the qualifiers, and I expect tomorrow to be a very tough match."

According to Pochettino, the US team's growth over the past few months has given them ample confidence. In particular, the team's 3-2 victory over Senegal and 1-2 loss to Germany in the last two warm-up matches have convinced the young players that they have the ability to compete with the world's top teams.

Pochettino pointed out: "The last two games allowed us to think and feel that anything is possible as long as we give it our all and compete in the best way."

To ignite a football fever on home soil and build momentum for the next round, Pochettino emphasized the team's need to display infectious energy on the pitch. He clearly expressed his determination to win this crucial match and offered a clear vision for the journey ahead.

“For me, success is victory. It’s about winning tomorrow, and winning the day after tomorrow. We need to play with passion. Winning games is important, but it’s equally important to win with passion and make the fans proud of everything they see on the pitch,” Pochettino added.

Image source: Internet