Weah Usa: Tim Weah says U.S. will press Paraguay in 2026
weah usa is about a style shift, not just a lineup. Tim Weah said the U.S. men want to stop playing like “the good guys” and embrace a more aggressive edge under Mauricio Pochettino before the 2026 World Cup.
That approach is meant to carry into Group D, where the Americans open against Paraguay on Friday in Inglewood, Calif., then face Australia and Turkey. The first 48-team World Cup gives the U.S. a bigger stage to show whether this version can produce more than past groups.
Weah's South American spirit
Weah said Wednesday the team has been missing “that South American spirit,” and he liked the switch in tone. “We've always been the good guys It's kinda nice being on the other end and being the aggressor a bit. It's fun.”
He also said, “I think he brings that South American spirit we've been missing,” a direct nod to Pochettino's approach. That message lines up with the coach's arrival in September 2024, two months after Gregg Berhalter's departure.
Pulisic pushes the press
Christian Pulisic offered the same blueprint. “It's one that is going to bring a crazy amount of energy and enthusiasm, just an exciting brand of soccer.”
He was even more direct about the work itself: “We are gonna press. We are gonna cause problems to other teams. We are going to fight. We are going to do all the little things and compete.” The U.S. captain added, “We are going to compete our butts off and I hope that's what [fans] can really see.”
Pochettino's record and the test
Pochettino's early results have been mixed. The Americans are 14-10-2 under him, compared with 44-17-13 in 74 matches under Berhalter, and they scored three goals while conceding four at the 2022 World Cup under Berhalter.
There is history behind the push for a cleaner break. The United States have reached the quarterfinals once since the inaugural 1930 World Cup, when they placed third, and they have not advanced past the Round of 16 in their last three World Cup appearances. Friday in Inglewood is the first chance to show whether the new aggression is more than talk.
Pochettino kept the message blunt after Saturday's 2-1 friendly loss to Germany in Chicago: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Now the Americans have Paraguay first, and a group stage that will quickly show whether pressing, contact and a higher tempo can carry into the 2026 World Cup.
