Wwhen the US was confirmed as the future World Cup Having co-hosted the tournament in Russia in 2018, the USMNT is still stuck under the rubble of its shocking failure to qualify. Mauricio Pochettino had just established himself among the managerial elite of European club football, and a year later he led Tottenham to the Champions League final.
Few would have imagined he would lead the USMNT into the 2026 World Cup, and perhaps even fewer believed he would stay until the next cycle. However, after a 2-1 win over Australia in Commerce City, Colorado, to close the October window, Pochettino noted that he was building the team with 2030 in mind.
“Not only to think in 2026, but also to think after… I think it is our responsibility to create some kind of legacy or try to create some kind of core of players who behave the same and feel the same, respect the values that we talked about, the culture and all that,” Pochettino said. “And after 2026, another period of four years perhaps to have that core of players who could arrive next year. [World Cup] in 2030 in a different situation.”
Indeed, 2026 has become a critical year for the USMNT program, partly due to their co-host status and partly because the team's core players are entering their primes. But the window for that coveted potential tournament success could realistically stretch another four years.
“There's no reason why the core group of guys led by Christian [Pulisic]at 30, 31 years old, you can still play and compete at the World Championships. [in 2030]USMNT legend Landon Donovan told the Guardian.
Weston McKennie and Pulisic will be 31 when the 2030 World Cup starts (they will turn 32 later that year). Tyler Adams will be 31, and Chris Richards and Tim Weah will be 30. Gio Reyna will be 27 (turning 28). Add in younger players who have emerged in the current cycle closer to his age, such as Folarin Balogun and Tanner Tessmann (both turning 29), and the experience the group will gain at major tournaments could certainly prove to be an advantage. It has been reported that the US could host the America's Cup again in 2028, giving the tournament even greater exposure.
“I think they'll be ready [in 2030]”Former USMNT manager and defender Gregg Berhalter told the Guardian. “When you think about Croatia doing well at the World Cup, they usually have older teams. I think it's possible.”
For all their talent, the core of the Croatian team Berhalter mentions still needed three unsuccessful tournaments together before they achieved their breakthrough in the World Cup finals in 2018 and the semifinals in 2022, when a new generation of Americans made their major debuts. Next summer will be an opportunity to develop.
“Looking back [at Qatar] And the way we played and everything, we were really competitive, we dueled a lot, but we were still a very young team,” Anthony Robinson said. “And there are little things like that in games where you might need a little extra time to complete a set piece or catch your breath and little things like that. Game management, based on the experience gained four years after the last tournament, will be of great importance to ensure that this is implemented in the game, and we will take the lead in this.”
This experience can be complemented by today's promising blue chip companies. Pochettino admitted last month that the US is weak on the flank, but the Philadelphia Union and Manchester City phenom Cavan Sullivan and Borussia Dortmund academy gem Mathis Albert, both on display at the recent Under-17 World Cup, could provide a spark in attack. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Augsburg centre-back Noakai Banks is now a regular starter in the Bundesliga. Pochettino called him in September and he could even be in the team this summer.
Berhalter noted that collective progress towards 2030 is not something to be taken for granted.
“The two things that have to happen at the same time are team development and individual development, and that will be the determining factor to see if this group can make it to 2030,” he said. “So people need to continue to progress at a high rate, and if they do that, it will be enough to say, 'Okay, this will be the third World Cup for this group.' There are enough of them that one can reasonably say that they could. But it has to happen.”
Speaking to the media in Washington ahead of the World Cup draw, former USMNT striker Charlie Davis called it a matter of priorities and player hunger.
“Like how much do you want to push?” – he said. “You play in one World Cup, you play in two World Cups. How important is it that you play in a third World Cup? How important is it for you to keep pushing and stay in Europe and put yourself in uncomfortable situations? Because I'll tell you right now, playing in Europe is hard work… it's a mental battle… Like Weston McKennie, every year: 'He's going to be sold, he's not going to play' and he's going to prove himself. But at what point do you go? 'I've had enough of this,' Man, I’ve proven myself year after year for 10 years.” And he continues to do it, which is very impressive.”
McKennie could become something of a leader of this factor in the progress of the national team in the next World Cup cycle. His contract with Juventus expires in June and he recently passed the 200-appearance mark for the Bianconeri. He said he hopes to stay in Turin, but recent rumors suggest he will not be renewing his contract.
FC Cincinnati pursued him two summers ago, perhaps part of a new effort by ambitious MLS clubs to at least entice national team stars to return home sooner than they otherwise might.
“[What is] deep down everyone has [that] MLS is growing and is no longer considered soft. I can still go there and get good quality and competition. So I’ll come back and get a bigger paycheck and maybe not have the stress that I would have every single day,” Davis said. “I live better, and the pressure and discomfort from week to week have gone away. It's something you'll have to think about as you get older, and maybe family is involved. What's best for your wife and your children?
“I think there are all these things that could change the dynamic of a lot of these players, but when thinking about the future, it would be crazy not to think, 'I don't want to play in a third World Cup.' As if this is the ultimate dream. So I think if they wanted to, they could have a big say in this matter. [in 2030]”
