With two victories under their belt to kick off the World Cup, the US team has garnered an influential ally in Zlatan Ibrahimovic. During a postgame segment on Fox, when asked if the co-hosts could clinch the World Cup title, the Swedish star replied succinctly, “I don’t think it’s ridiculous,”
Following the team’s 2-0 triumph over Australia on Friday, US players echoed a shared sentiment regarding Ibrahimovic’s remarks: Why not?
“We want to lift a trophy by the end of this.” stated Chris Richards. “I don’t think you enter this tournament not to have that mindset. To have [Ibrahimovic] say that about us, that’s amazing. But I’m sure he knows as well, it’s game-by-game.”
His teammate, defender Auston Trusty, shared a similar perspective.
“I think you dream of this moment,” Trusty remarked. “And for it to finally happen with such a support system to help you celebrate it makes is so much more special. When it was confirmed, I saw all my teammates running and I thought: ‘I’ve got to run away, they’re going to tackle me!’”
Rising Star Alex Freeman
Should the US advance far in the tournament—secured by Friday’s win that confirmed their spot in the knockout stage—it will be significantly attributed to the breakout performance of Alex Freeman. The 21-year-old defender, now with Villarreal after shining as one of the top young talents in MLS with Orlando City, has emerged as a standout player in this World Cup. Freeman, who played on the right side of a three-man defense, scored the decisive second goal during Friday’s match—a goal initially disallowed for offside but later validated following an extensive VAR review.
“The evolution is massive,” Freeman expressed, the son of Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman. “He has potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world. He’s [a] humble guy, he has an amazing profile. He wants to learn. He always listens … you really enjoy being with him.”
Pochettino’s Ambitions
At his introductory press conference as head coach of the US, Mauricio Pochettino set a clear goal: to win the World Cup. Following Friday’s match, he praised not only Freeman’s performance but also the development system that nurtured him.
“The evolution is massive,” Pochettino noted after the game. “He has the potential to be one of the best players in his position globally. He’s a humble guy with an impressive profile. He’s eager to learn and always listens … you really enjoy being around him.”
Historical Context
The US men’s soccer team has a storied history, with their best finish in a World Cup being a third-place achievement in the inaugural tournament in 1930. Their most notable result in recent years was reaching the quarter-finals in 2002.
