Under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the US Men’s National Team has done something unprecedented in its modern World Cup history: winning its first two group stage matches to clinch the top spot in Group D before the final game.
Pochettino, hired in September 2024 at $6 million per year after the team’s disastrous 2024 Copa América exit, has rebuilt the squad’s identity. The USMNT demolished Paraguay 4-1 and then beat Australia 2-0, posting a +5 goal differential through two matches-its best ever. The team now faces Türkiye with nothing on the line, allowing Pochettino to rotate and experiment.
The last time the US reached a World Cup quarterfinal was 2002. Playing on home soil in the expanded 48-team tournament, topping the group opens a theoretically easier knockout path. The energy of home crowds and Pochettino’s tactical flexibility have reignited hope.
With the final group match a luxury, the Americans are poised to build on this momentum as the knockout rounds approach.