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U.S. men's national team wins first two World Cup matches
The U.S. men's national team defeated Paraguay and Australia in its opening games at the 2026 World Cup. Observers note the results allow optimism about further progress.
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The U.S. men's national team secured victories over Paraguay and Australia in its first two matches of the 2026 World Cup. The team recorded two comprehensive wins that demonstrated both creative and gritty styles of play.
Pulisic sat out the second half against Paraguay and the full match against Australia due to a calf injury. The squad controlled both games without its star forward.
Richards said the team aims to win the tournament. "I don't think it's ridiculous to say that we want to win it," Richards said. "We want to lift a trophy by the end of this." Former Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic answered "Yes" when asked on a Fox postgame show whether the co-hosts could win the World Cup.
The players have focused on staying in the moment and handling external pressure with modest comments. A long path remains before any deeper tournament run can be assessed.
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