Weston McKennie is poised to be a key player for the U.S. Men's National Team in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The team, led by Mauricio Pochettino, aims to advance from Group F, facing Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye.
Key points
Weston McKennie is a key player for the USMNT
USMNT is coached by Mauricio Pochettino
USMNT is in Group F at the FIFA World Cup
USMNT will face Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye
USMNT aims to win their first knockout game since 2002
Mentioned in this story
USMNTJuventus
Weston McKennieFIFA World CupParaguayAustralia
Weston McKennie celebrates scoring for the U.S. Men's National Team
Weston McKennie will likely be a cornerstone for the U.S. Men's National Team at this summer's FIFA World Cup -Credit:Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The U.S. Men’s National Team will soon embark on its FIFA World Cup campaign, with Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie set to play the part of one of the cornerstones of Mauricio Pochettino’s lineup.
Drawn into Group F, the USMNT will face Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye, with the aim of making it to the knockout rounds and potentially winning their first knockout game since 2002 in South Korea/Japan.
Co-hosting alongside Mexico and Canada, the U.S. will host 78 of the 104 games across the more than one-month-long tournament, which has been expanded to consist of 48 teams this summer.
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Weston McKennie playing for Juventus
McKennie has been in outstanding form for Juventus this season -Credit:Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
For McKennie, this will mark his second World Cup, having been a part of Gregg Berhalter’s side, which failed to make it past the Round of 16 in Qatar four years ago.
But while the weight of expectation may be too much for some to handle, especially in front of a home crowd, this doesn’t seem to be the case for the 27-year-old Texan, who recently told FIFA that he feels neither fear nor pressure.
“I don't really feel like it's pressure,” McKennie explained. “I think it's something we're excited about more than pressure, and for me, I feel like my whole life has been a lot of pressure situations and pressure moments, and back-against-the-wall moments or underdog moments.
“I feel like people have these expectations for us and have these wants and desires for us to exceed, but we want it just as bad or even more for ourselves. Pressure situations just come with the territory.”
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If anything, it seems McKennie and Co. are piling the pressure on themselves more than sensing it from the outside, keen to right some wrongs from throughout the past four years.
“The team feels like we still have something to prove,” he said. “I think everyone was probably happy with the performances and the effort we gave in Qatar, but I think us as a team, we know that we could have accomplished more.
“I think we're always our biggest critics. We hold ourselves responsible for many things that happen, and then in these past four years, we've had some upsets, but we've also had some successes as well, when it comes to (Concacaf) Nations League. Copa America [2024] maybe wasn't our best also, and I think we're pumped, we're ready, and we want to prove ourselves right rather than prove people wrong.”
Leading the way this time around will be former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss Pochettino, who has endured a mixed spell in charge. While the USMNT failed to retain the Nations League, win the Gold Cup, or beat a European opponent since he first took charge in October 2024, he has undoubtedly helped expand the roster with young talent, creating at times a team that has, at times, shown grit and fight.
Asked about the Argentine, McKennie said, “I think the coach has come in with energy. I feel like there are a lot more opportunities for a lot of players, and I think nobody can feel like they're 100 per cent secure in their position.
U.S. Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino speaks with Weston McKennie
McKennie praised Mauricio Pochettino for bringing 'energy' to the team -Credit:Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
“I think that's something he brought in, a very competitive group of players, that if you want to play, you have to show why. And it's not like, ‘Oh, just because you're playing at this big club that your spot is secure.’”
Regardless of results on the field, the USMNT has the opportunity to do something arguably more important than winning a few games, as they look to inspire a new generation to pick up a soccer ball.
“I think what we can do, with the World Cup being at home, is just make a difference,” McKennie said. “For us as players growing up, the guys that came before us did their part, and we kind of picked up where they left off in trying to grow the game in America.
“In comparison to American football, baseball and basketball, soccer is kind of the toward the back, but I feel like, now, with everything changing, soccer is growing a lot more, and I believe we're going have a big influence and big opportunity to change that narrative in America when it comes to soccer.”
