As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, U.S. men's national soccer team faces significant pressure and negativity. Disappointment follows a series of losses, exacerbated by tensions between star player Christian Pulisic and new coach Mauricio Pochettino, who took over after Gregg Berhalter's dismissal. Players recognize the need for improvement, acknowledging their recent performances have been unsatisfactory. Injuries have further complicated the lineup, with key players unavailable, leading to their first four-game losing streak since 2007. Despite this, the squad aims to regroup and push forward as they prepare for the global tournament on home soil.
"It's a storm," veteran defender Tim Ream said last Friday of the negativity. "You can either run from it, you can hide from it, or you put yourself back out there and say, 'Okay, we're going again.'"
"I don't think there's any denying that some of our performances have fallen short over the past year to 18 months," said defender Walker Zimmerman earlier this month. "It's something that, us as players, we obviously aren't satisfied with."
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