USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said the time for motivational speeches has passed as the United States prepares to open its 2026 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay on Friday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
USMNT Ready For Paraguay At SoFi Stadium
Speaking at Thursday's news conference, Pochettino said the work that matters should already have been done. His point was not especially romantic, but tournament openers are not usually solved by a last-minute locker-room monologue.
The United States begin their World Cup as one of the three host nations, alongside Canada and Mexico. It is the first time the U.S. has hosted the tournament since 1994, which gives Friday's Group D match an obvious weight before the ball even moves.
Chris Richards Back As All 26 Players Available
Pochettino said all 26 U.S. players are available for selection. That includes defender Chris Richards, who returned to full training this week after recovering from a sprained ankle.
The U.S. coach said Richards can be picked, though he did not reveal whether the defender will start or come off the bench. Pochettino also said he has already settled on his starting lineup, leaving everyone else to perform the standard pre-match guessing exercise.
Paraguay Bring Argentina And Brazil Wins
Pochettino described Paraguay as a difficult opening opponent and pointed to their World Cup qualifying record, which included wins over Argentina and Brazil. He also praised Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro.
The matchup therefore arrives with two clear facts attached: the U.S. have a full squad available, and Paraguay have already shown they can trouble elite South American opposition. That is enough to make the opener feel serious without requiring anyone to shout about destiny.
Pochettino said the group has changed during his 20 months in charge, especially in mentality and consistency. Friday will test how much of that growth travels from preparation into a World Cup match, which is the only place it can really count.