US Dreaming of World Cup Victory After Recent Big Wins

Could the United States really win the World Cup?

After two opening victories, with an aggregate score of 6‑1, many US television pundits—including Fox’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic—are asking this wildly optimistic question. Ibrahimovic answered simply, “Yes.”

Although the US still faces steep odds against traditional powerhouses such as Spain, France and Argentina, the players were not afraid to nurture ambitious dreams after a 2‑0 win over Australia on Friday.

“I think we came here to compete, and to compete, you have to win every game,” US midfielder Malik Tillman told AFP in Seattle after the match. “In the end, if you want to win the tournament, again, you have to win every game. I think that’s also our goal for the next one.”

So far the US have only played Paraguay, which they beat 4‑1, and Australia. Their next match is against eliminated Turkey, a dead rubber for both sides.

More challenging tests lie ahead in the knockout stages, with Belgium and then Spain among the likely opponents if the US win their last‑32 clash.

It is worth noting that the US have won only one knockout game in their entire World Cup history—a 2‑0 win over Mexico in the round‑of‑16 in 2002, when they reached the quarter‑finals in their best modern campaign.

World Cup hosts have an impressive track record of lifting the trophy on home soil. Six teams have won in the tournament’s history, most recently France in 1998, who followed that inaugural win by building a dynasty and reaching three more finals.

However, no host winners have ever been as unlikely as the US, who are often seen as potential future giants of untapped promise but are distracted by domestic sports such as the NFL, basketball and baseball, which have traditionally taken precedence over soccer.

– ‘Why not us?’ –

If that perception is changing, the rapid rise of the domestic Major Soccer League has played a part, providing homegrown talent like Friday’s goalscorer Alex Freeman.

The emergence of a “golden generation” of stars playing for Champions League clubs—such as AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic, Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie and Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman—has also contributed.

Perhaps the most significant factor has been the expensive hiring of elite coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has deconstructed and rebuilt an underperforming, complacent squad in his own image.

US and Crystal Palace centre‑half Chris Richards praised the former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris Saint‑Germain manager’s track record and motivational powers for instilling belief.

“We’ve seen him do it with big teams, and he’s very passionate in the way that he speaks,” said Richards. “It kind of reflects on us as well. So we take that passion and we try to apply it to how we go out there on the pitch.”

While urging his players to remain grounded and focused, Pochettino has encouraged fans to dream, frequently asking “Why not us?” in public comments.

So, does Richards really believe the US could pull off what would be comfortably the greatest upset World Cup win in modern history?

“Obviously we take it one game at a time,” said Richards. “But I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say that we want to win it.”

Vanguard News

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