Sports
Archived — This article has been archived. The information may be outdated.
Pochettino says US lack top-100 stars but can dream
NDTV Sports··10 Jun
US coach Mauricio Pochettino said no American players are currently among the world's top 100, but still told his squad they can dream of winning the World Cup. Christian Pulisic ranked 116th and Tim Weah 183rd in The Guardian's annual player list.
Prism
What It Means For You
- US fans should expect bold public ambition, but the team's knockout record shows the size of the challenge.
- The squad has more European club experience than past generations, yet lacks recognised global top-100 stars.
- Goalkeeping and support from home crowds may become decisive margins in a tight tournament.
What's Happening
- Mauricio Pochettino said the US does not have players in the world's top 100 but can still dream of winning.
- Players including Pulisic, Adams and McKennie are framing the campaign around belief and proving themselves.
- The US hopes to reach at least the semifinals for the first time since 1930.
Host-Nation Pressure
- Host nations often gain emotional and logistical advantages, but expectations can also create pressure.
- The US missed the 2018 World Cup and exited in the round of 16 in 2010, 2014 and 2022.
- The 2026 tournament is a chance to test whether MLS growth and European development have raised the national team's ceiling.
all-newstop-storiesdaily-roundup
