5 key questions for the USA soccer team heading into the 2026 World Cup: Expectations, lineups and defensive concerns
The USA soccer team is set to face its first match of the 2026 World Cup, with many questions being raised regarding their success and lineup.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The USA soccer team's World Cup opener against Paraguay on Friday at SoFi Stadium is the culmination of an epic journey over the past eight years. After failing to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018, USA Soccer received a new direction when FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that the 2026 World Cup will be held in North America. This announcement assures an automatic spot for Team USA, Mexico and Canada.
Now that the USA team is on the field with its strongest roster, coach Mauricio Pochettino, known for his European club career, has given the players the mentality to win and compete. "We have very good athletes and players. The challenge is to bring everyone together," Pochettino said.
Here are some of the major questions that are arising ahead of the first match of this World Cup:
- How far must the USA go for its World Cup to be considered a success? Pochettino has made his players believe they can do great things. "We are representing a country that always wants to be the best," he said. However, the reality is that when Infantino hands the World Cup trophy to the winning captain on July 19, the USA probably won't be No. 1.
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Should the USA expect problems in the group stage? Group D includes Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye, a balanced combination. The USA team needs to win the first match as their second outing will be against Australia.
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Do we know the starting lineup against Paraguay? While the official lineup will be announced only 75 minutes before the match, based on recent matches, we can guess what the possible USA lineup could be.
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How's this team's experience? Half the roster has participated in a previous World Cup, and the players also have more experience at the club level.
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Are there any glaring weaknesses? USA's defense is a point of concern, especially if Chris Richards is not available. In the last four friendly matches, the USA has conceded many goals.
If USA strengthens its defense, they may have a chance to reach the quarterfinals. If not, it could lead to another lost opportunity.
