Pochettino confident USMNT ready for Paraguay in World Cup opener
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 12, 2026, 7:28 PM
Last updated Jun 12, 2026
U.S. Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed confidence in his squad's preparation ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Paraguay, scheduled for Friday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The USMNT, currently ranked 17th, recently secured a 3-2 victory over Senegal but lost 2-1 to Germany in their last two outings. Pochettino emphasized the team's evolution and readiness to compete against strong opponents this summer. He noted that the squad is fully fit, including center back Chris Richards, and has embraced a competitive mindset throughout their preparation.
- •USMNT opens World Cup against Paraguay on June 12 at 9 PM ET.
- •Team is ranked 17th, Paraguay ranked 40th.
- •Recent results include a win over Senegal and a loss to Germany.
- •Pochettino has led the team in 26 matches since September 2024.
- •Chris Richards confirmed fit for the opening match.
- 8:13 PMYahoo Sports — Mauricio Pochettino ‘loving’ USMNT mentality as boss warns of ‘underestimating’ his players
- 7:28 PMYahoo Sports — Mauricio Pochettino confident USMNT is prepared to face ‘big teams’ ahead of World Cup opener
"Ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Paraguay, U.S. Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino delved into his confidence in his team's ability to take on 'big teams' this summer
"Mauricio Pochettino has warned of 'underestimating' his U.S. Men's National Team players ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Group D rivals Paraguay on Friday
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 12, 2026, 8:13 PMMauricio Pochettino ‘loving’ USMNT mentality as boss warns of ‘underestimating’ his players
Mauricio Pochettino has warned of 'underestimating' his U.S. Men's National Team players ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Group D rivals Paraguay on Friday
- Yahoo SportsJun 12, 2026, 7:28 PMMauricio Pochettino confident USMNT is prepared to face ‘big teams’ ahead of World Cup opener
Ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Paraguay, U.S. Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino delved into his confidence in his team's ability to take on 'big teams' this summer
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- FIFA World Cup•Jun 12, 2026, 9:03 PMGillette Stadium Makes Change For First Time In 20 Years For World Cup
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 12, 2026, 8:59 PMCanada's Cyle Larin proves all the cliches true as Canadian World Cup hero
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 12, 2026, 8:49 PMHow many people watch the World Cup in the world, U.S.?
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 12, 2026, 8:42 PMUSMNT great Clint Dempsey slams Canada coach Jesse Marsch over national anthem accusations
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 12, 2026, 8:42 PMUSA vs. Paraguay free live stream: How to watch USMNT World Cup game online without cable
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 12, 2026, 8:30 PMRichard Hughes gets what he needs to agree blockbuster Yan Diomande to Liverpool deal
