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The U.S. men's national team has completed its pre-World Cup warm-up matches and is now fully focused on Group D competition against Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye, with the opening fixture set for this Friday.
Following a morale-boosting 3–2 victory over Senegal last week and an encouraging showing against Germany on Saturday—despite falling 2–1—the USMNT can enter soccer's biggest stage on home turf with a degree of confidence.
For head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the focus now turns to resolving any remaining questions about the squad's readiness. Here, Sports Illustrated examines the three most pressing ones.
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Where Should Weston McKennie Play?
Weston McKennie is the most adaptable player in the USMNT squad, yet his exact role within Pochettino's system remains a major talking point. In the friendly against Germany, the 27-year-old was deployed higher up the field in a makeshift No. 10 role, but that allowed Germany to dictate the tempo, as the U.S. midfield at times permitted the UEFA heavyweights to play through at pace—most notably on Leroy Sané's second goal.
Deploying the intelligent McKennie in a deeper position could prove more effective, enabling him to link up with Tyler Adams in central midfield while potentially feeding more attack-minded players ahead of him. That said, the right fullback slot doesn't appear to be the ideal fit for McKennie, given the impressive contributions Sergiño Dest and Tim Weah have already made on that flank during the friendlies.
The Juventus standout featured in nine different positions at club level over the past season and will need a clearly defined role with the USMNT when the high-stakes moments arrive this summer.
Is Chris Richards Reliable Yet?
When speaking with Sports Illustrated last week about his availability for the World Cup opener, USMNT key center back Chris Richards expressed confidence in his recovery from injury, even though he sat out the Germany match. With just five days until the first game, updates on the Crystal Palace defender have gone quiet, though he appeared to be in good spirits on the bench on Saturday.
If the 26-year-old is fit enough to play—or at least capable of managing through discomfort with the aid of strapping, pain relief, and so on—is it a risk worth taking?
Having been sidelined for nearly a month and missing Crystal Palace's most crucial match of the season—the Europa Conference League Final late last month—he may lack match sharpness, and thrusting him into the spotlight of a World Cup opener could be a genuine gamble.
Pochettino has several paths he could take, but must determine which is the wisest. He could start Richards and hope he holds up for most of the match; give him additional rest for a few more days; or introduce him as a late substitute to ease him back in, ideally once the USMNT has already built a comfortable lead.
None of these options are ideal for one of the squad's most important players—and certainly one of the key figures in the defensive line—but how he is reintegrated remains a critical question, as does identifying which defender could step in if Richards isn't ready to feature.
Who Are the Impact Players Off the Bench?
Every team at the World Cup has a clear strategy for their substitutes. Certain players have the ability to change a game in the closing stages, exploiting tired opponents who have been worn down by the summer heat. Who fills that role for Pochettino? What is the plan if the U.S. needs a late equalizer or must protect a slim advantage, and how does that player fit tactically?
Heading into the friendlies, it seemed the Argentine coach had earmarked Gio Reyna for that impact role. However, in both matches, the 23-year-old midfielder appeared a step off the pace, as though the game was moving too quickly for him to truly influence proceedings—a concern that was especially evident during his time on the pitch against Germany. Beyond that, can Ricardo Pepi come off the bench and pair with Folarin Balogun in attack, or is switching to a two-striker setup too disruptive in the dying minutes of a World Cup match?
While Pochettino appears to have settled on his preferred starting lineup for the World Cup, his approach to substitutions remains unclear. He must now find the answers to his game-management dilemmas when the pressure is at its highest.