IRVINE, Calif. — Great Park, where the U.S. men’s national team has established its World Cup base camp, is the former site of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, which was a military training hub for pilots, aircrews and ground personnel during World War II. Since then, the more than 1,300-acre property has been transformed … Read more
One of the final cuts from the United States roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Mark McKenzie has been a consistent call-up for current U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino since the Argentine took over the sideline for the 2026 tournament co-hosts 19 months ago. Four years later, McKenzie — who plays at French … Read more
As much as modern World Cup squads are typically constructed using a forensic examination of data points collected over a four-year cycle combined with the gut feelings of experienced national team coaches and their staffs, the United States’ roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was always going to be different. USA boss Mauricio Pochettino … Read more
In 2022, Christian Pulisic never looked happier. The U.S. national team headliner was sat at a podium in a tent next to the Americans’ training base in Qatar basking in the glory of his first World Cup goal — a game winner against Iran that sent the Americans to the round of 16. Normally almost … Read more
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (ATLANTA) — The United States men’s national team impressed early against Belgium. Then the wheels fell off. A first-half lead in Saturday’s high-profile World Cup warmup match against Belgium — FIFA’s No. 9 ranked squad — melted away as the USA conceded four straight goals in front of a heavily pro-USA crowd of … Read more
Two big pre-World Cup tests await the U.S. men’s national team later this month. And those games against Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta will go a long way toward clearing the picture of which players will be World Cup bound this summer. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Chris Richards were among … Read more
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Chris Richards were among U.S. men’s national team mainstays called up for next week’s FIFA World Cup 2026 preparation matches against Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta. Minor injuries will prevent 2022 veterans Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest and Haji Wright — plus young attacker Diego Luna — … Read more
When Mauricio Pochettino names the U.S. men’s national team roster next Tuesday for two high-profile tuneups in Atlanta against European powerhouses Belgium and Portugal, the temptation will be to assume it will be identical to the coach’s eventual World Cup squad. By definition, they’re different. One will be announced in late March. The other one … Read more
The last time we did this exercise we began with a word about why the importance of formations in soccer is generally overrated. Since the way teams initially set up means little, and because it’s been almost three full months since the U.S. men’s national team took to the field, let’s consider the very real … Read more