The path to the glory of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup has been clearly defined for the United States men’s national soccer team. Players Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams shared their thoughts on the team’s prospects.
The USMNT stars expressed their views on Friday after learning they would be in Group D, going up against Australia and Paraguay, two teams they recently defeated in friendly matches. They will also face the winner from European Playoff C, featuring Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkiye, and Romania.
Pulisic emphasized the advantage of familiarity, stating that it enhances their confidence as they prepare for next summer’s competition, but he cautioned against underestimating their rivals.
“I think we can go into it with a good feeling. Obviously, we’ve played against these teams recently, which is not always the case. We know more or less what they’re going to look like, and we know they’re tough opponents as well.”
(Translation: Pulisic acknowledged the value of recent encounters for their upcoming matches.)
He added, “We’re not taking anyone lightly. They’re all going to be tough games, but I think it’s great that we have that experience. … it’s cool that those friendlies and some of the other ones were able to prepare us for some of the teams we’re actually going to play.”
Confidence alone won’t suffice for a squad keen on redemption after their lackluster performance in Qatar 2022. Pulisic and Adams were part of the team that exited in the knockout stage, following their absence from the Russia 2018 tournament.
When asked if their expectations have shifted this time, Adams emphasized a focused mindset, suggesting they prioritize a game-by-game approach. While aiming for victory is crucial, they also want to set a new standard based on their growth since 2022.
“Our idea is to win. But I think setting the benchmark of the furthest a US team has gone is also realistic.” (Translation: Adams highlighted the importance of recognizing both victory and the need for progression.)
Pulisic echoed his teammate’s sentiments, stressing the need to remain grounded and focus on achieving their initial goal, which is to place in the top half of their group.
“We have to finish in the top half of that group and that’s our first goal. Once we get there, it’s a knockout tournament, and from there, no matter what round we lose in, we won’t be happy.” (Translation: Pulisic emphasized that their goal is to advance from the group stage.)
