Mauricio Pochettino was blunt in his assessment of American soccer talent.
“We are USA and competing against Belgium, Portugal," the U.S. coach said after a pair of March losses in friendlies. “I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players few, or some players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have.”
No Americans were listed among the top 100 when The Guardian published its annual list in December. Christian Pulisic was 116th in the voting by a panel of 219 former players, coaches, technical staff and media. Tim Weah was next at 183rd.
Spain placed 14 in the top 100, France 10, Brazil and England nine each, and Argentina and Portugal eight apiece.
“I don’t think our talent is far —- or much less than any other country in my humble opinion,” retired American forward Jozy Altidore said. “I think we’re just as talented. So for me, I’m that crazy guy. I believe and I know the players believe, but, why not? Why not us?”
U.S. players and staff are thinking big, hoping the red-white-and-blue can win its first World Cup title or at least reach the semifinals for the first time since 1930.
Americans still have to prove themselves to much of the soccer world.
“We want to do this for ourselves. We want to do this for our own country. We don’t need to prove to anyone else,” Pulisic said. “We have good players, really good players playing in top clubs in the world. We have a good team and, yeah, we’re going to do the best we can to prove ourselves right more than anything.”
Tyler Adams, the captain in 2022 and the team's top defensive midfielder, sees the goal as to go as far as any team has before."
“It’s just been a while, I feel like, since we’ve knocked off a big boy,” he said. “I think we need to try and find that in our character and I think that we will.”
Dreams and reality have collided for the U.S. in the World Cup. The Americans are 1-7 in World Cup knockout games, their only win over regional rival Mexico in 2002 before a quarterfinal loss to Germany.
Since then, they lost in the round of 16 in 2010, 2014 and 2022, failed to advance from the group stage in 2006 and didn't even qualify for 2018.
Despite the lack of pedigree, Pochettino told players in March they can win the title.
“Why not us? Why not us? Why not us?” he said. “We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream.”
Pulisic in 2021 became the first American to play in and win a European Champions League final, helping Chelsea to the title. He is one of six American World Cup-bound players on clubs ranked among the top 40 by UEFA coefficient, spending the past three seasons with No. 30 AC Milan.
That list includes midfielder Malik Tillman (No. 9 Bayer Leverkusen), midfielder Weston McKennie (No. 25 Juventus), defender Sergiño Dest and forward Ricardo Pepi (No. 26 PSV Eindhoven) and defender Alex Freeman (No. 39 Villarreal).
Goalkeeper, once an American strength with Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel and Tim Howard all starting for English teams, is now a weakness. This will mark the first time a Major League Soccer goalkeeper appears for the U.S. at a World Cup.
“Goalkeeping is definitely a concern,” said former American midfielder Stu Holden, now a Fox commentator. “We haven’t had a standout goalkeeper now for a number of years, but yet you have an opportunity to change the perception of who you are by one tournament.”
Matt Freese, the likely starter, made his international debut last June and has just 15 appearances.
“Not really, not really listening to anyone outside of the guys with me and the coaching staff,” he said.
The U.S. team often plays home games in front of crowds with a majority cheering on the opponent, which happened during games against Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Morocco, South Korea and Turkey.
“Americans are some type of fans that show out and show up for the big things even if they don’t love soccer,” McKennie said. “Any big event, we know how to put on a show and we know to show up, so I think it’s a huge advantage.”
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
United States' head coach Mauricio Pochettino talks with members of the media as he arrives with his teammates for the World Cup soccer tournament in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Germany in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
NEW YORK (AP) — Offices, public parks, bars — watch parties popped up at all the usual spots for Wednesday’s semifinal World Cup match. But one was in something of an unusual location: New York’s sprawling Rikers Island correctional facility, better known for its overcrowding and violence than for hosting social events.
More than 100 inmates dressed in tan uniforms took seats at tables facing a projection screen showing the game in a gymnasium at the complex’s main intake center to watch the semifinal match between England and Argentina. Colorful balloon towers topped by soccer ball balloons framed the screen.
The jail has been hosting watch parties since the tournament kicked off last month for inmates who have shown good behavior, including being incident free for at least 30 days.
The scene Wednesday was in sharp contrast to complaints about Rikers Island that have been so bad in recent years that a federal judge appointed a federal official to help improve the facility. Wednesday's watch party came a day after that official, called a remediation manager, submitted a plan for reforms that included bleak descriptions of dysfunction at the facility.
That included one account of inspectors arriving at a housing unit to find it filled with smoke from fires set by prisoners, blaring alarms and people pounding on their cell doors. The report also described a separate incident in which prisoners streamed through an unsecured door and brawled after a guard abandoned his post.
But on Wednesday, the Rikers inmates at the watch party got a visit by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who arrived shortly before kickoff. His trademark dark suit jacket was off and his white dress shirt sleeves were rolled up.
The Democrat took a seat at a table and immediately started chatting about the tournament. One of the inmates told others at the table that he expected Argentina to prevail over England and go on to face Spain, which had defeated France the day earlier.
“You never know,” said Mamdani, a professed Morocco fan.
At another table an inmate said he was going home later in the day. “That’s amazing,” the mayor said, shaking his hand and patting his back before heading out at about the 20-minute mark of the game.
The jailhouse crowd erupted in a mix of groans and cheers as England struck first with a goal early in the second half.
Ralph Veal was among the minority of England fans who raised his arms in celebration as Argentina supporters grimaced and looked away dejectedly. The 53-year-old Mount Vernon resident, who has been incarcerated since November, said he’s rooting for England because it’s his 20-year-old son’s favorite team.
“The vibe is real good, you know. I’m sitting at the table with Argentina fans, but it’s all right,” Veal said shortly before the England goal. “We have a good, a good time, you know, it feels real great, real great. The energy is real positive in here.”
Victor Caldas was among the legion of Argentina fans who jumped out of their seats hugging and clapping and banging the tables as the team took a 2-1 lead in stoppage time, and then went on to win a spot against Spain in the final on Sunday.
The 39-year-old, who has been incarcerated for four months, has been rooting for Argentina since his home country of Ecuador was knocked out of the tournament.
Caldas said he appreciated being able to watch the game uninterrupted among fellow soccer fans because there’s always competition for other programs on the televisions in his housing unit.
“I give it all my best to get this little time and enjoy the moment,” he said. “This was supposed to be like kind of a reward for good behavior.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks with inmates on Rikers Island as they watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rikers Island inmate Ralph Veal celebrates as England scores during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rikers Island inmate Ralph Veal celebrates an English goal with a corrections officer during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rikers Island inmate Victor Caldas, an Argentina fan, reacts during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rikers Island inmates watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks with Rikers Island inmates as they watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rikers Island inmates react as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, not pictured, leaves the jail complex during a World Cup semifinal soccer match watch party for the game between England and Argentina, in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks with Rikers Island inmates as they watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rikers Island inmates watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rikers Island inmates react as they watch the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina, at the jail complex in New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
