Alexi Lalas, the former US men’s national team defender, believes the USMNT will win the World Cup in the not-too-distant future.
Speaking at Soccerex in Miami, Lalas, who played for the host nation at the USA ’94, predicted that the team, currently managed by former Tottenham and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, will lift football’s biggest prize in either 2026 or 2030.
The World Cup in two years time will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico, meaning the US team will qualify automatically as hosts.
And, while he admits the Argentine does not have a lot of time to work with the team, Lalas has high hopes for the new manager.
“In Poch we trust,” said Lalas.
“It’s going to be interesting because he doesn’t have a lot of time. We’re a year and a half away [from the 2026 FIFA World Cup].
Made it look too easy 😎#USMNT x @ATT pic.twitter.com/eXAoXmrIOU
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
“He’s not qualifying the team because of the automatic bid, so the opportunities are few and far between to be in competitive environments. But I think he’s said all the right things. I think he has also produced a kind of energy and excitement that this team needed.
“I think he’s got the right attitude right now, I think he’s got a lot of talent to work with, but he’s going to have to coach them up to get them to do the things that we want them to do, which is to win a World Cup.
“We will win a Men’s World Cup in the future. Whether it’s 2026 or the next one, it’s going to happen.”
Pochettino has only been at the helm since September, when he replaced Gregg Berhalter following an underwhelming group stage exit on home soil at Copa America 2024.
But the early signs are positive. Under Pochettino, the US team have won three of their last four matches, including two victories over Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals. The one defeat came against Mexico.
And with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi all plying their trade in Europe’s top leagues, the US squad boasts a host of talent going into the tournament.
13 #USMNT goals and counting for @Ricardo_Pepi9 🚂 pic.twitter.com/Vw1yHjD47l
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) November 20, 2024
The furthest the US men’s team have ever got in a World Cup was nearly a century ago, when they finished third in 1930.
More recently, they reached the quarter-finals in 2002 and the Round of 16 in 1994, 2010 and 2022.
The US Women’s team, meanwhile, have won four World Cups, and took home a fifth gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics under former Chelsea Women’s head coach Emma Hayes.
Lalas added: “Emma’s great. For the failure of the last Women’s World Cup, then to bring back Olympic gold. Whatever we’re paying her, it’s not enough. She’s doing a great job.”
