The United States isn’t expected to be among the favorites for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Can Mauricio Pochettino flip the script with his strategy?

Stu Holden, a FOX Soccer analyst, shared his insights on “The Herd” about the U.S. team’s upcoming expectations, particularly during Pochettino’s first World Cup as head coach.

Stu Holden on USMNT Expectations

Holden emphasized the talented players in this generation:

“We’ve had an unrealistic feeling… Mauricio Pochettino is shaping the team’s style towards a more attacking approach, utilizing some of our best talents playing at top European clubs.”

He further stated:

“We can’t just assume we can directly compete with established soccer nations like Argentina, Spain, and England.”

Despite recent setbacks, including two friendlies resulting in defeats against Belgium and Portugal, the U.S. squad needs to regroup quickly. They will face greater challenges ahead with matches against Senegal and Germany.

Holden noted,

“To be competitive with the world’s best, we need to manage time and space better on the field.”

Pressure is mounting on Pochettino to exploit the offensive capabilities of the likes of Christian Pulisic while refining the team’s defense to ensure they perform well at the tournament.

The Stars and Stripes will begin their World Cup journey on June 12, preparing to meet Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium.