Winning the match was one thing, but how it played out was another.After years of frustrating, slow soccer, the USMNT played a brand of free-flowing, attacking football based on impressively accurate passing and relentless movement up the pitch.Much of the credit goes to the players; Chris Richards had an incredible 100% accuracy rate on his passes, Folarin Balogun had several outstanding finishes, Malik Tillman was a consistent force, Christian Pulisic had a dominant first half, and Antonee Robinson made highlight-reel moves to get free.
But the rest of the credit has been deservedly placed on manager Mauricio Pochettino.Folarin Balogun of the United States celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026.(John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)After an often shaky start to his tenure leading the USMNT, the performance against Paraguay was a complete repudiation of his critics and validation of his tactics and managerial style.
Most USMNT fans were struck by the sense that they'd never seen a U.S.team play with that style, that successfully.US EARNS HISTORIC WIN IN WORLD CUP OPENER AFTER BEATDOWN OF PARAGUAY AS THE LEGEND OF FOLARIN BALOGUN IS BORNAnd with several other top teams, like Brazil and Spain, for example, looking generally unimpressive in their first matches, it's given rise to hopes that the USMNT may make a deeper run in the tournament than originally believed.But it's one thing to see it from the outside, it's another to hear from the players what Pochettino is telling them.
What motivation he's adding within the locker room.Thankfully, Sebastian Berhalter told us this week.The midfielder and son of former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter spoke to the media on Tuesday about Pochettino's influence on their mindset.USMNT CAPTAIN TIM REAM SAYS TEAM'S WORLD CUP MINDSET IS SIMPLE: 'LET'S WIN THE THING'United States' Sebastian Berhalter kisses his jersey after a victory ov...