US national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has affirmed his team’s ability to win the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico this June.
The draw placed the US in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and another team from the European playoffs, a group that appears relatively easy for the host nation.
Pochettino revealed that US President Donald Trump directly asked him about the possibility of his country winning the World Cup, and the Argentine coach assured him that his team is capable of achieving this.
“We can do it,” Pochettino told reporters. “When we, as the US national team, accept the challenge in international competitions, we reaffirm our deep belief in our ability to win the title.”
He added, “Trump personally asked me about our chances, and I assured him that we are capable of winning and that we believe in it. Our goal is to compete for the World Cup and not disappoint the president.”
Reaching the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup is considered the most significant achievement in the history of American soccer, a sport with a relatively short history in the world of football overall.
The current generation of the US national team includes a number of outstanding players, most notably AC Milan star Christian Pulisic, and the hosts are expected to be one of the most exciting teams in the upcoming World Cup, with the potential to go far in the tournament.
