USA Face Battle-Examined Ecuador With 2026 World Cup Roster Spots on the Line

[ad_1] AUSTIN, Texas — No matter occurs in Friday evening’s tough World Cup preparation recreation in opposition to Ecuador, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino is definite of 1 factor.

"I promise you, nobody is bound that he's going to be on the roster of the World Cup 2026," Pochettino stated Thursday throughout his pre-match press convention. "I do not imagine earlier than that was the [case]. At present, I promise that each one the fellows really feel they should combat to be there. And that's priceless."

Friday’s contest at Q2 Stadium comes virtually precisely a 12 months to the day of the previous Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur supervisor made his debut on the U.S. sideline. That 2-0 pleasant victory over Panama final October by some means appears quite a bit longer in the past than that. A lot has modified across the program during the last 12 months, to Pochettino’s level.

Briefly, he has pressured the American gamers out of their consolation zone. It has additionally been a steep studying curve for Pochettino, who repeated on Friday that the USMNT stunning losses to that very same Canaleros squad and fellow World Cup co-hosts Canada served as a "wake-up name" for him and his workers.

Now, after leaving Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie off of his September roster and omitting Yunus Musah — one other 2022 World Cup starter — from the present one, he feels the correct tone has been set. He has his gamers' consideration.

Whether or not he has all of them at his disposal in opposition to Ecuador is one other matter.

(Picture by John Dorton/ISI Pictures/USSF/Getty Photographs)

Pochettino revealed on the eve of the exhibition that star man Christian Pulisic didn’t practice on Thursday and won't be accessible. Similar for left again Antonee "Jedi" Robinson and winger Alex Zendejas, who scored the game-winning aim within the Individuals’ most up-to-date check, a 2-0 win over Japan final month. All are nursing minor accidents and may very well be rested for Tuesday’s assembly with Australia in Commerce Metropolis, Colo., the second of this month's two tune-ups.

Ecuador received’t be at full energy, both. After qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with ease, ending second in South America behind solely defending world champs Argentina following that continent’s 18-match marathon, La Tricolor boss Sebastián Beccacece left a number of standard starters with their golf equipment this month, most notably Chelsea standout Moises Caicedo, probably one of the best defensive midfielder on all of planet fútbol.

However different stars, like Pulisic’s AC Milan teammate Pervis Estupinan and PSG defender Willian Pacho are right here. And Ecuador hasn’t misplaced a recreation since dropping a World Cup qualifier in Brazil greater than a 12 months in the past now.

"They've velocity," stated McKennie.

Simply dealing with a South American foe will likely be completely different. The total-strength U.S. hasn’t carried out that since being eradicated from the 2024 Copa América by Uruguay, two months earlier than Pochettino was employed to succeed Gregg Berhalter.

"They’re additionally a crew that is very aggressive," defender Chris Richards stated. "They usually wish to have a combat."

A really perfect opponent, then, for a U.S. squad with World Cup roster spots on the road, one which hasn’t swept a two-match worldwide window since beating Jamaica house and away within the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals final November.

"I believe we're settling in," Pulisic stated. "It is about constructing on good performances, one after the opposite, after final camp, feeling good. And now it’s one other nice alternative."

That goes for each the USMNT and people hoping to be nonetheless be on it on the most important stage of all.

"For positive the gamers which might be going to play" in opposition to Ecuador, Pochettino stated, "Are going to carry out."

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has lined United States males's and ladies's nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.