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The U.S. opens its World Cup on Friday against Paraguay. John Dorton / USSF
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — On the eve of his team’s 2026 World Cup debut, U.S. national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino warned the time for motivational speeches is over.
There will be no grandiose address to the team looking to fire up the players before the United States faces Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Southern California on Friday (9 p.m. ET).
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“Everybody knows how to be ready,” Pochettino said on Thursday. “They don’t need any external motivation or an inspirational speech.”
“If you are not ready, I’m sorry guys,” Pochettino added. “It’s impossible to perform.”
Pochettino said he told the team that they need to find a way to play within themselves, “in a bubble,” he said, where they can feel connected mostly to the emotional side of the moment, without being too anchored to expectations.
“They need to think tomorrow and play like they are a child,” Pochettino said. “With no pressure, with no responsibility. It’s to play doing what they need to do and what not to do.”
The Argentine manager seemed already to be in game mode on Thursday. There were just one or two jokes, otherwise, he was prepared to deflect any questions about who may or may not play.
Pochettino said all 26-players on the squad are available for selection, including key center-back Chris Richards.
“Chris is available to be selected, and then we will decide if he starts from the beginning of the game or is on the bench,” Pochettino said.
The manager did concede that Richards’ role, as well as the debate over the team’s starting goalkeeper being Matt Freese or Matt Turner, has already been determined. But Pochettino is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“I already decided,” Pochettino said. “It’s done. The starting XI is there.”
It seems likely the lineup will closely resemble the United States’ final pre-World Cup friendly, a 2-1 loss to Germany. Freese got the nod in goal, with rising defender Alex Freeman in defense and Christian Pulisic leading the attack alongside forward Folarin Balogun.
The United States is favored in the game against Paraguay, having beat the South American nation 2-1 in Philadelphia in November. Paraguay is dealing with injury issues of their own, with key attacker Julio Enciso in doubt after suffering an injury in a friendly against Nicaragua.
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Group D is one of the most even groups at the World Cup this summer. Alongside the USMNT and Paraguay is Turkey and Australia. All four like their chances of getting out of the group and matchday one will be crucial in setting up the hierarchy.
While Pochettino played in a World Cup for Argentina as a player and has managed a number of big clubs in Europe, Friday will be his coaching debut at a World Cup. He was relaxed on Thursday, reflecting on the preparation the team has done in his 20 months in charge of the team.
Pochettino and his staff made their debut with the USMNT in October 2024. Since those first training sessions, everything they have done is with an eye to the World Cup. That preparation hasn’t changed as the days towards the opening match have shrunk.
While half of the roster is entering its second World Cup having been in Qatar four years ago, others, like Freeman, are preparing for their first. Freeman said his family is coming by on Thursday and he is looking forward to spending time with them as a way to settle any anxiety.
“You’re going to have nerves … if you don’t have nerves, you’re not going to enjoy the moment to the fullest,” Freeman said.
After Mexico kicked off the tournament on Thursday in Mexico City with a 2-0 win over South Africa in front of a raucous home crowd, Pochettino is hoping to connect deeper with the fans to push the team onward this summer. He spoke glowingly of the support the team got in their two send off matches, first in Charlotte against Senegal then in Chicago against Germany.
“It’s contagious,” Pochettino said. “We need to play with passion, we need to win games. We need to make the fans proud of our team on the field to create that emotional relationship (with the fans).”
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