Pochettino emphasizes relaxation ahead of USMNT's World Cup opener

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US coach says all 26 players are available for selection No rousing pregame speech planned ahead of kickoff US v Paraguay kicks off at 9pm ET Friday Mauricio Pochettino declared on Thursday that, after months of assessing his player pool and testing different formations and approaches, it’s time to trust that his staff have set up the team for the best tournament possible. “I was talking with a good friend that won the World Cup in 1986 with Argentina,” said Pochettino, who confirmed that all 26 US players are available for selection. “He said to me, ‘in relaxation, you become concentrated and focused.’ I think we try to be very professional in every single aspect of our preparation by creating a very good atmosphere where the player can feel comfortable and to embrace and, not to learn, but to understand what we expect” Continue reading...

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Mauricio Pochettino declared on Thursday that, after months of assessing his player pool and testing different formations and approaches, it’s time to trust that his staff have set up the team for the best tournament possible. “I was talking with a good friend that won the World Cup in 1986 with Argentina,” said Pochettino, who confirmed that all 26 US players are available for selection. There have been tough lessons along the way, from the shock fourth-place finish at the 2025 Concacaf Nations League to March’s friendly defeats to Belgium and Portugal by a 7-2 aggregate.

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After numerous training camps and friendlies, tournaments and tuneups, Pochettino believes he and his staff have done everything to get his players in the proper mindframe.