It’s always impressive when you see a player go an entire game without an incomplete pass attempt, but that’s not something a center back will necessarily strive to achieve. No center back is going to go out there with the idea of, “I want to improve my completion percentage.” That’s not the job of a … Read more
LOS ANGELES STADIUM — A day before the USA men’s national team produced its most lopsided victory in almost a century’s worth of FIFA World Cup appearances, head coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned something that felt like a throwaway remark at the time. In their opening match of the 2026 tournament, the USA’s players “need to … Read more
LOS ANGELES STADIUM — I knew this USA team could cook, but it threw some special sauce in on Friday night. The USA gave us a little bit of everything — and then some — in the first half of its win over Paraguay. Mauricio Pochettino’s team was dominant from the opening whistle to the … Read more
As one of the United States’ most consistent leaders at 38 years old, U.S. national team defender Tim Ream is expected to be at the World Cup as one of the many veterans carried over from the 2022 squad. Ream joined First Things First on Wednesday to discuss everything from USA’s tournament outlook and the … Read more
Back in March, on the day Mauricio Pochettino named the United Sates’ penultimate roster before this summer’s FIFA World Cup, I asked the U.S. men’s national team coach how he’d weigh the more consequential decisions looming two months later: if making his 26-player World Cup squad would depend more on their form and fitness in … Read more
MARIETTA, Ga. — As he settled into his podium seat for Monday’s packed pre-match press conference inside the sprawling and pristine training facility of MLS side Atlanta United, U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino cut a businesslike figure. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images) The Argentine answered the first dozen or so questions matter-of-factly, displaying … Read more
There are three things Sebastian Berhalter does in order to perform at his best. Getting a good night’s sleep, of course. Reading – he’s currently digging his way through ‘The Light We Give.’ And thirdly, being diligent in his routine. This part Berthalter maps out carefully. The Vancouver Whitecaps and U.S. men’s national team midfielder … Read more