US star Christian Pulisic said the World Cup co-host is ‘ready to compete’ on football’s biggest stage as it prepares for a potentially painful opener against Paraguay on Friday.
Expectations are high in the United States as the US hosts the tournament for the first time since 1994, alongside Mexico and Canada, and talismanic forward Pulisic insisted the squad around him can “compete with anyone”.
“We want to be a real force in this tournament,” he told AFP. “We have three really good games to show everyone what we stand for.”
The first of these comes against the South American opposition in Paraguay.
The first US-based match of this World Cup will kick off at 6pm local time in Los Angeles (01am GMT on Saturday) and will be preceded by a Hollywood-style opening ceremony.
Paraguay is the lowest-ranked team in Group D, which also includes Australia and Turkey, but has as much World Cup history as any of its rivals.
«Paraguay showed in qualifying for this World Cup how difficult they are to play against and how they perform so well. They beat Argentina and Brazil,» coach Mauricio Pochettino told AFP.
Pochettino hails from neighboring Argentina and played alongside many Paraguayan teammates during his days at Newell’s Old Boys. He warned about their «mentality, competitiveness.»
«Paraguay showed in qualifying for this World Cup how difficult they are to play against and how they perform so well. They beat Argentina and Brazil,» coach Mauricio Pochettino told AFP. | Photo credit: REUTERS
«Paraguay showed in qualifying for this World Cup how difficult they are to play against and how they perform so well. They beat Argentina and Brazil,» coach Mauricio Pochettino told AFP. | Photo credit: REUTERS
«From South America, Paraguay are like brothers to us… My expectation is that tomorrow will be very difficult because Paraguay is not only competitive and aggressive. They also have good quality.»
Pulisic said Pochettino helped make a talented American team more streetwise ahead of the match.
«We know we have to be ready to compete. It’s not just about playing nice football,» said Pulisic.
Good test
The US is expected to line up with Monaco striker Folarin Balogun between Pulisic and PSV player Sergino Dest first
The likely midfield trio includes Juventus star Weston McKennie, Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Malik Tillman and Bournemouth presenter Tyler Adams.
Pulisic has been suffering a goal drought for five months but was in excellent form in a 3-2 friendly win over Senegal last month, with a goal and an assist.
Paraguay’s best players include former Newcastle United striker Miguel Almiron, and diminutive young midfielder Julio Enciso, who joined French club Strasbourg from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer.
Experienced defenders Omar Alderete and Gustavo Gomez are the leaders of the team, while Argentina coach Gustavo Alfaro – who took Ecuador to the last World Cup – preaches a simple, direct style, with plenty of aerial attacks.
“Paraguay is a great team and a very good test,” Pulisic told AFP.
“We know from within what we are capable of, and now it’s about showing that.”
Pochettino, who has managed Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, reiterated that progress from Group D alone would not count as success for him.
«For me, success is winning. Is winning tomorrow. And winning after that,» he said.
«If we don’t reach the final and don’t win the World Cup, to call it ‘successful’? I don’t know.»
Richards passes
Top American defender Chris Richards is officially healthy enough to play in the World Cup opener, less than four weeks after suffering a significant ankle injury.
Pochettino confirmed that Richards is “available for selection” for the opener.
«We will decide whether he will start from the start of the match or come off the bench,» Pochettino added. «Our medical and performance staff have worked very hard on Richards’ recovery. It is a very good feeling to have 26 players available for selection.»
Published on June 12, 2026
