For the type of U.S.national men’s team fan who’s mainly plugged into the American squad during World Cups, it may come as a surprise to learn how much tension there is between some of the program’s all-time greats and the U.S. players who will kick off the 2026 tournament against Paraguay on Friday.
This friction came to a head last summer.
Star forward Christian Pulisic was criticized by U.S. legends Landon Donovan and Tim Howard for skipping the Concacaf Gold Cup citing fatigue; his father clapped back at Donovan on social media.
Eric Wynalda, scorer of a perfect free kick in 1994 that was as important as it was beautiful, never pulls punches when asked about the current generation; nor does his former teammate and my FOX Sports colleague Alexi Lalas. Their successors clearly haven’t appreciated the takes, even when the feedback was warranted and fair. Tim Weah went as far as to call the old guard “evil” in 2025, an assessment he still stood by months later.
But that’s not the whole story.
“I have a different point of view because I played a little bit with these guys,” former U.S. striker Jozy Altidore, who trails only Donovan and Clint Dempsey on the program’s all-time goal list, told me and other reporters before the World Cup co-hosts trained outside of Atlanta two weeks ago. “A lot of those [older] guys, possibly they do not know them as effectively.”
Jozy Altidore performed alongside Christian Pulisic in 10 matches with the united States. (Picture by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
Altidore lined up alongside Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Tim Ream and different present USA mainstays by way of the 2019 Gold Cup last, his final worldwide match. And he’s extra bullish about the home team’s chances than another alum, having predicted nothing lower than U.S. captain Ream hoisting the World Cup trophy following the ultimate in New York-New Jersey on July 19.
But whereas most others are tempering their expectations, the concept Mauricio Pochettino’s gamers don’t have the backing of the lads who got here earlier than them merely isn’t correct.
Within the weeks main as much as the largest World Cup in historical past, I requested a half-dozen former U.S. veterans how they suppose the nationwide crew will fare this summer season.
Their solutions paint a special image:
Brad Guzan, Goalkeeper (2010, 2014): “That is the query that everybody retains asking: What’s the ceiling right here? I hold saying I am excited.”
Maurice Edu, Midfielder (2010): “These guys are extremely blessed to have this chance, and I do know they’ll profit from it.”
Gregg Berhalter, Heart Again (2002, 2006, coach in 2022): “What I might say about this group — and particularly concerning the 13 gamers which can be coming back from the final World Cup — is that they are extraordinarily motivated, they’re extraordinarily devoted to representing their nation, they usually know easy methods to carry out underneath stress.”
Gregg Berhalter coached the U.S. to a Spherical of 16 completed on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (Picture by ANP through Getty Photographs)
Tab Ramos, Midfielder (1990, 1994, 1998): “The robust half for this crew is that they’re imagined to win now. That’s a way more tough place to be than all of the earlier groups that we have had prior to now.”
Tony Meola, Goalkeeper (1990, 1994, 2002): “Simply speaking to some [current] gamers over the past couple of months, they’re hoping to have an awesome month, 5 weeks, and do one thing actually, actually particular.”
Jozy Altidore, Striker (2010, 2014): “I’m extremely supportive of this group, as a result of I have been on the within. I understand how they suppose and what they wish to accomplish.”
Ramos: “For those who take a look at who they play within the first spherical, they’re actually favorites in opposition to all three groups. I imply, you can argue about Türkiye, proper? However, in fact, we’re pleased with our group. We actually could not have performed an entire lot higher.”
Guzan: “Mauricio clearly has an concept of what he desires, and he chosen the 26 gamers that he feels can provide him one of the best alternative to achieve success.”
The U.S. has a report of 14 wins, 9 losses, and two attracts underneath Mauricio Pochettino. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Occasions through Getty Photographs)
Edu: “These guys know they’ve expertise, they know that they are able to doing one thing particular. I’m trying ahead to seeing them go on the market and proving it to themselves. We’re previous the purpose of attempting to show different folks fallacious.”
Ramos: “For those who’re Paraguay or Australia, you’re pleased with this group, too. They drew the U.S. and never Germany or Brazil or Argentina, proper? So, I believe it’s going to be robust. However this U.S. crew will be so good in many various methods. I do know folks will argue this, however I believe we’ve a very good participant in each place.”
Guzan: “If we’re in a position to play how we performed in opposition to Senegal and Germany within the three group video games, get out of the group after which advance into the knockouts and proceed to play like that, I believe we are able to really do one thing particular.”
Meola: “What these guys do not realize is what number of lives of people that aren’t into soccer immediately, as you and I speak, however a month from now will probably be into soccer for the remainder of their lives due to them.”
Berhalter: “There is not any doubt in my thoughts that these guys will step up. That is what they have been made for.”
Guzan: “Who’s to say we are able to’t make a run, win a knockout spherical, go on to the spherical of 16 and upset a so-called huge soccer nation?”
Ramos: “I’ll let you know what: if we get into the spherical of 16, which we should always, and draw a very good opponent, I believe we win that recreation. As a result of as underdogs, we will be a lot better.”
Altidore: “It is a improbable group of gamers, a improbable group of younger males, and I could not be prouder of the 26 that have been chosen right here. And for me, they’ve my full assist.”
Berhalter: “That is their second. Every thing that we constructed in the course of the six years I used to be there [as the coach] was to get to this second. They know that, they usually’re prepared.”
Edu: “Now it is only a matter of them going on the market and proving themselves proper.”
