Is the United States men's national team ready for the 2026 World Cup?
With Pochettino as coach and stars like Pulisic, doubts remain one year before the World Cup at home.
With the 2026 World Cup only a year away, the focus is squarely on the U.S. men's national soccer team. With the U.S. co-hosting along with Canada and Mexico, this tournament is viewed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity — not just to compete, but to demonstrate how far we have come on the global soccer stage. This group of players has been labeled the "Golden Generation," and, with that label, comes big expectations.
But, those expectations are starting to feel a little heavy. While players like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are making names for themselves in top leagues across Europe, questions linger whether the team is prepared to step on to the biggest stage. Tony Meola, a former national team goalkeeper who played in the last World Cup hosted by the U.S. in 1994, said the situation felt familiar. "I don’t feel like we’re ready right now," he said, echoing the sentiments of former players and analysts.
Pochettino’s arrival and a team still searching for Ssability
To capitalize on what has the potential to be, U. S. Soccer brought in a big name, Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine coach has championship experience at the upper echelons of the game. His resume includes successful stints at clubs like Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea. The whole affair was, it appeared, a statement of intent—a clear signal that U.S. Soccer was serious about playing global catch-up to build something before 2026. So far the results have been mixed.
Under Pochettino, the team has produced victories and defeats—including an embarrassing 4-0 loss against Switzerland. And with only one year to prepare before the opening match of the tournament, there is still no clear answer as to who will start in a variety of positions. The presumed first-choice goalkeeper, Matt Turner, hardly played last season at Crystal Palace, and is now going to Lyon. The situation is very similar with central defense, as not one of the leading candidates, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, could form a partnership with any of these candidates. As Meola elaborated, “We're still unsettled in the middle of the field.”
ALSO SEE: How to Watch USA vs. Türkiye LIVE for the International Friendly Match: TV channel and start date
A promising generation still needs to prove itself
Without a doubt, this group of players thought a lot of that can play the game. Many of them are playing in the top leagues in Europe and are simply more experienced than the group that went to Qatar four years. Talent alone does not win international matches. The USMNT has yet to have a signature "win", and their miserable exit at the Copa América this summer did nothing to alleviate questions. Guys like analyst Taylor Twellman tell it straight, "They're not in the conversation" when comparing the US to elite soccer cultures.
There are difficult decisions to come when finalizing their squad. Although Folarin Balogun has the inside track as their best striker, the other carry-over options (Ricardo Pepi, Josh Sargent) continue to shake themselves out. There is a similar debate in midfield with Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Malik Tillman all trying to be selected. And it may even come down to Gio Reyna who, despite being obviously more talented than everyone, many (not all) don't necessarily believe he will make the final roster. Former USMNT defender Jimmy Conrad doesn't expect Reyna to make the final 26 depending on the system they eventually choose. He thinks other players may fit the system better.
Final stretch to build depth, identity and confidence
Sporting Director for U.S. Soccer Matt Crocker knows he can’t delay. With friendlies and the Gold Cup, the next few months will be imperative for figuring out the identity of the team. “We need to know who the best three players are at every position,” he said, mentioning that injuries or late shifts in form could change everything.
Crocker also mentioned that there is noise outside of their control the doubt, the criticismbut reinforced that the team is focused on what they can control. “We would love for everybody to support us, but at the end of the day we need to earn that support through performances and results,” he said. For the players, time is of the essence. One year from now, a World Cup will begin in the players' backyard. And by then, there may not be room for questioning—it will all be answered.
