3 keys for the USMNT to come out of its World Cup group
The 2026 World Cup kicks off in eight weeks, and the one thing the US Men's National Team (USMNT) can count on is intense home support, especially since they will be playing on the West Coast, where the fans at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Lumen Field in Seattle have been rabid.
To warrant that loyalty, here are three keys to getting out of their group, which includes Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye.
Emphasize defense
The USMNT’s overall defense is its acknowledged weakness, so they will have to employ the tried-and-true strategy of surviving group play by preventing goals.
In their past two losses in friendlies (Belgium 5-2 and Netherlands 2-0), the USMNT played expansively and aggressively. This did not work well. USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino should learn this lesson and have his squad work on restricting space through compact positioning, disciplined marking, and coordinated movements.
Playing this way makes the field small for the attacking team and reduces space in dangerous central areas. This also means that the USMNT defenders have to be patient and stay balanced and on their feet.
Compactness also means not running away from the attackers but by guiding them into less dangerous areas or to other defenders. The Belgian and Dutch attackers had too much time and space on the ball to pick out a pass, and the results speak for themselves.
No hero ball
Going hand in hand with emphasizing defense, the USMNT must avoid “hero ball,” where a player thinks it’s all on him to win the game. While this is used in basketball, it is applicable to soccer when individuality overrides the team system, refusing to pass and instead trying to beat multiple defenders, taking unnecessary risks, or attempting ill-advised shots.
There is room for individual brilliance, of course, and players like forward Christian Pulisic have that ability. But others do not have Pulisic’s proven track record, so if the opportunities arise, they should make sure they aren’t abandoning their responsibilities.
Figure out the best 16
“Job One” for Pochettino in these upcoming weeks is to not only figure out his “Best XI,” but which players should be on the field when the USMNT is down or up a goal or sent into the game to change the tempo or light a fire.
Identifying the starting lineup involves more than picking top individual talent, but figuring out tactical fit in specific formations, be it a 4-3-3 for width, or partnership within a 4-4-2, or work rate when playing with five at the back. Pochettino also needs to figure out which of his players are best suited to play against the pool opponents.
Does he need someone to shadow Türkiye’s Arda Güler, a magician capable of the spectacular? Who on his side is willing to go toe-to-toe with a physical Australia team? And against Paraguay’s wily duo of Miguel Almiron and Antonio Sanabria, which midfielders will need to support the defense?