The USA beat Paraguay (2-1) and Uruguay (5-1) to wrap up 2025 with a five-game undefeated streak. As we have at each major step of the USA’s 2026 World Cup preparation, we checked in with U.S. Hall of Famer Tab Ramos for his views on the team’s progress under Coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Ramos, who moved to the USA from Uruguay with his family at age 11, represented the USA at three World Cups and the Olympics. He also head coached the U.S. U-20s at four U-20 World Cups and was a U.S. assistant coach at the 2014 World Cup. He’s currently the CEO of the US National Soccer School.
SOCCER AMERICA: Let’s start off by revisiting a conversation we had after the USA’s 2024 Copa América debacle at the end of Gregg Berhalter’s tenure. You indicated that you had faith in the U.S. player pool ahead of the 2026 World Cup. That would not have been a consensus opinion. Has Mauricio Pochettino proved you correct?
TAB RAMOS: I’m pretty sure that I was not the only one. The team was talented but never looked like an American team between 2019 and 2024. The discussions seemed to be about complicated tactical analysis, high-performance metrics and, more importantly, about how this was going to be the 2026 World Cup team. It made players comfortable and in a contact sport when you are comfortable you get run over.
Pochettino has now made players uncomfortable, they play for their position every day. This is how American players respond best.
SOCCER AMERICA: After the USA beat Paraguay, 2-1, Pochettino made nine starting lineup changes. The team didn’t skip a beat and pulled off a 5-1 win over Uruguay. What does that reveal to you?
TAB RAMOS: It clearly says that they all feel like they have a chance to go to the World Cup and they are playing for a spot. Only the head coach can create that environment.
It took much longer than we wanted but we are there.
On the field, the players seem to have the freedom to move but the team never loses its shape.
The high press is synchronized and more importantly it is given maximum effort. Our ball recovery is in dangerous areas and we intend to punish teams immediately by transitioning forward with speed.
It was an impressive international break.
SOCCER AMERICA: Do you think come the World Cup roster selection deadline, Pochettino may actually have a difficult time deciding who to leave off the roster?
TAB RAMOS: The midfield in particular is very crowded with deserving players. They have all performed when called upon in the last two windows. Players will be left off not for not performing well but because others just did better with their opportunities.
SOCCER AMERICA: Were you surprised that Pochettino called up Gio Reyna?
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