United States captain Tim Ream credited an “intense” and occasionally tense training camp for the team’s explosive 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their World Cup opener. After three weeks working under Mauricio Pochettino, the squad arrived at their California base with high expectations as co-hosts, and Ream admitted emotions had run high behind the scenes. He said those moments reflected a group desperate to perform and ready to attack the tournament from the first whistle.

Pochettino emphasised the value of finally having his full 26-man roster together for an extended period, something injuries and club commitments had often prevented since he took charge in 2024. The win, watched by 16 million viewers on Fox, has sparked rising excitement and ticket demand across the country.

Weston McKennie insisted the team must maintain the same intensity, while Ream warned that sustaining performance across multiple matches will define their campaign, with Australia and Turkey up next.