Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena has shot down any claims that the country will win the 2026 World Cup, branding any such suggestions as stupid.
The current crop of youngsters coming through from the USA include Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie of Juventus and Barcelona defender Sergino Dest, and as a result some have said the team could lift football’s most prestigious trophy in five years.
“That’s stupid talk,” Arena said in an interview with Extra Time. “You’re talking about winning a World Cup now? We didn’t qualify [in 2018] and now we’re going to win the World Cup?
“I do think the way the sport has grown in our country, the young players we have that when we play at home in 2026, and hopefully we have a good draw and all that, that the US will have a very competitive team in 2026
“The goal in the short term should be to qualify for the next World Cup.”
