The Dreamer from Murphy

Manager Pochettino Embraces the Weight of the Moment

There's a certain poetic symmetry to Mauricio Pochettino's current situation. A boy who fell in love with the World Cup watching Argentina lift the trophy in 1978 now stands on the other side of the dugout—not as a player or a fan, but as the head coach of a co-hosting nation with genuine aspirations of doing the same.

That phrase, "why not", has become something of a mantra. When President Trump asked whether the U.S. could win the tournament, Pochettino didn't hesitate. "First, because I believe it," he said. "And second, because when the biggest representative of a country asks… if the coach wavers, I'd kick him out."

The belief is genuine, but so is the nuance. Pochettino has spent his tenure trying to rewire a cultural mindset, teaching a group of players the difference between playing and competing, between participating and refusing to lose. His record with the national team stands at 15 wins, 10 losses and a draw heading into Friday.

He's also been deliberate about shielding his players from outside noise, including the politically charged atmosphere surrounding this tournament. His job, as he sees it, is singular: prepare a team to win football matches.

The lineup for the Paraguay opener remains a closely guarded secret. His players admitted this week there's been little clarity about who starts. For Pochettino, that's entirely by design. The dreamer from Murphy still has a few cards left to play.

Richards Ready

USMNT's Defensive Anchor Cleared for Paraguay Opener

For the United States men's national team, Friday night's World Cup opener against Paraguay just got a lot more promising.

Chris Richards, the defensive cornerstone of Mauricio Pochettino's squad, has declared himself fit and available after a troubling ankle injury threatened to sideline him for the tournament's opening match. The 26-year-old center back participated in a full training session earlier this week, which was the first time all 26 players were on the field together since camp began in May, and left little doubt about his intentions.

"When I first came out with the injury, I was pretty devastated," Richards said. "But I kind of forced myself back on the pitch to prove to myself that it was doable. Once I found out the diagnosis, it was, alright, how do I get ready for this game against Paraguay?"

The stakes of his availability can't be overstated. Richards is U.S. Soccer's reigning male player of the year, a distinction that reflects both his peers' respect and his rapid rise to becoming one of the Premier League's most well-rounded center backs. This past club season, he helped Crystal Palace claim the UEFA Conference League title, playing nearly every minute of the run until the final, before the ankle injury cut short his participation in the final stretch.

His skill set is tailor-made for Pochettino's system. Comfortable in a back three, adept at both front-foot and back-foot defending, and composed with the ball at his feet, Richards is far more than just a physical presence. He organizes the defensive line and can match up against a variety of striker types.

The final call belongs to Pochettino, but with Richards apparently healthy, the decision may already be made.

Stars, Stakes and Home Soil

The USMNT's Moment Has Arrived

The wait is finally over. After years of buildup, debate and anticipation, the United States men's national team opens its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign Friday night against Paraguay in Los Angeles, and the mood around the squad couldn't be more electric.

Winger Tim Weah captured the feeling best when he spoke to reporters this week at the team's Orange County base camp. "Being on home soil is a dream come true," he said. "If we can do the job that we want to do, we make history."

That history-making ambition is backed by genuine talent. Christian Pulisic, the AC Milan attacking midfielder and team talisman, enters the tournament as the fastest American ever to reach 50 goal contributions for the national side. Folarin Balogun arrives from Monaco on the back of a scorching club season, with 11 goals in 14 games, and figures to be the clinical striker the U.S. has long lacked. Meanwhile, a glimpse of the team's attacking ceiling came in the June 6 friendly against Germany at Chicago's Soldier Field, where Antonee Robinson's thunderous finish had 63,000 fans roaring despite a 2-1 defeat.

Defensive health is the key question mark. Chris Richards, the team's linchpin center back, has been working around the clock to recover from an ankle injury and indicated this week he's ready to go—a massive potential boost for a back line that will need to be sharp against a Paraguay side not to be underestimated.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has preached clarity of purpose throughout the buildup. The group is experienced, European-tested, and hungry. The stage is set, the crowds are ready, and for this USMNT squad, the time for talking is done.