The US ran riot in their 4-1 win against Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Los Angeles Stadium early Saturday. The team looked confident and dominated its South American opponent at their home turf in front of 70,492 people. The mastermind behind the win is an Argentine architect — Mauricio Pochettino.
As one of the commentators had said, “The world of football has gone to the nation of soccer.”
Seeing the aggressive 4-2-3-1 formation, Pochettino made sure the US plays European-style football. With pace at the wings and two dominant defensive midfielders, the host had an uncanny similarity to Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur that reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2019.
Relying on speed, the early breakthrough for the US came from an own goal, which the defender could not have avoided. The second goal came from a similar attack — a low cross from the left flank — which was sublimely placed into the bottom corner of the net by Folarin Balogun. He went on to score a brace in the 45th minute after receiving a cutting through pass, before a feint and a left-foot top corner finish.
The Monaco striker, who chose the Stars and Stripes over the Three Lions, looked like an experienced centre–forward.
Paraguay’s relief came just after the second hydration break, but it was short-lived after the US continued their pressing, which led to another goal deep in the stoppage time.
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Tougher tests for the US
The US looked like a mature team, a quality that has been linked to Pochettino’s best clubs. Be it the quick change of wings or the fast counterattacks, every move had the 54-year-old’s classical touch. The hunger of every player to score, the hunger of every player to perform, and the hunger to finally make a statement at the world’s biggest football tournament stood out for the US squad.
This team looked like it wanted to prove a point to the world — soccer can compete with football. And Pochettino gave them a reason to believe. More importantly, Pochettino gave a style of football that the US had been lacking for the longest period of time. From the pressing, to the trackback, to the overlaps, it felt as if it was another EPL team that knows how to handle home pressure at a big tournament.
Football in America, or the MLS, has always been a “retirement home” for several legendary players. At least that was the notion till now, from David Beckham to Zlatan Ibrahimović to Lionel Messi, the league has always drawn such players at their fading end of the career. However, the US under Pochettino has an opportunity to shift that narrative.
Initially, Paraguay did not give in easily. They came organised, compact, and with a clear plan to frustrate their opponent. And, they did exactly this for the first 15 minutes. However, Pochettino’s style of play fits into this loophole. The longer the opposition holds the ball, the more gaps appear on the pitch. That’s why, in every match that Pochettino has managed, the first quarter has always belonged to his opponent.
He reads the gaps and exploits every single one of them.
Nonetheless, this is just the epilogue for the US in the FIFA World Cup. It has been a dream start. But tougher tests lie ahead. There are many teams this year who could penetrate the midfield and expose the gaps and capitalise on the set pieces that Paraguay could not.
But momentum, especially when it comes to home soil, is a different story altogether. It might be unfair, but it is real. If Pochettino can continue this run, then a berth at the knockout stages will be secured. And, it will be the beginning of an era, because the US has never felt that way earlier.
This was the first glimpse of Pochettino’s World Cup version. And, it was a moment of pure football. Not soccer!
Views are personal.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)