IRVINE, Calif. — The U.S. has waited 32 years to play a World Cup on home soil. All that waiting finally ends Friday at SoFi Stadium against Paraguay.
Team USA will kick off the world’s biggest sporting event as a huge underdog. But with the nation marking its 250th birthday in the midst of the tournament, the team is aiming at making a deep run — maybe even celebrating by bringing home a long-shot title.
“That’s the plan,” said defender Chris Richards, hoping to return from an ankle injury that cost him the final two tuneup friendlies.
“If we can start off the World Cup with three points, not just for our confidence but also to show the group that we can be top dogs in this group and top dogs in this World Cup. So I think with a statement hopefully on Friday and three points, it’ll set the tone for this World Cup.”
The tone of this World Cup is yet to be set.
It could end up remembered for corruption, price gouging and war between the U.S. and Iran — who could face off in the knockout rounds.
Or it could be recalled for a thrilling Team USA run to a quarterfinal — or beyond.
The latter would likely require beating Paraguay.
Taking the full three points Friday would be not just a statement but a rarity. While the U.S. has improved to the point where advancement from the group stage is expected, the squad has won just three games in the past five World Cups.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has endeavored to instill the mindset that victories on the biggest stage against the best foes are not just possible but expected.
“Just confidence and belief in ourselves that we can do it, that we can go play against good teams, not be afraid,” Christian Pulisic said. “Believing, having the confidence that we’re able to beat anyone; that’s what it is. And we’ve gained some experience, especially the last World Cup, a lot of guys being around. Now, we have an opportunity to prove it.”
Much of this roster came up together. Some on the roster experienced the heartbreak of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup but saw the U.S., Mexico and Canada win the bid that summer to host this summer’s tournament.
The last time the U.S. played on home soil, defender Tim Ream was just 6, keeper Matt Turner was a newborn, and the rest of these players weren’t born.
It’s been a long wait to show the soccer world — no, make that the entire world — what they can do.
“For sure, [it’s] a great opportunity. Every World Cup game is a huge opportunity. Paraguay is a good team. We have to have a good performance and really fight if we want a good chance to win, to send a good statement to the group,” Pulisic said.
Midfielder Tyler Adams added: “This is, for me, the biggest opportunity to really grow the game, to inspire people to show that American players are at the level of the rest of the world. I’m not going to say it’s difficult to showcase that week in, week out when you’re playing abroad, but that’s not the collective like now. You have a group of Americans playing together at a high level: Let’s show everyone what we’re capable of doing.”
What they’re capable of doing may hinge on answering questions like the health of Richards and who gets the nod in goal between Turner and NYCFC’s Matt Freese, who has started 15 of the past 18.
And the players answering just how deeply they believe in themselves.
“Yeah, it’s how we feel as a team,” Alex Freeman said. “For us, it’s having that confidence in ourselves, knowing that we’re on home soil. It’s a different type of environment knowing that we have the fans behind us, knowing that on the field it’s going to be a different type of confidence, different type of intensity that we’re going to have to show day in and day out to be able to go and show we can be protagonists and be able to make our name for ourselves.”
