FIFA World Cup 2026: Pochettino says USA ready for penalties in R32 clash vs Bosnia
Synopsis
Mauricio Pochettino isn't just talking about being ready — he's hired specialist companies to prepare the USA for a World Cup penalty shootout. With Bosnia and Herzegovina up next in the Round of 32, the host nation's coach is treating every game as a final, and his squad's penalty prep could prove decisive if Thursday's clash goes the distance.
Key Takeaways
USA face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on Thursday .
Coach Mauricio Pochettino says the squad is prepared for every scenario, including a penalty shootout , with help from specialist companies.
The USA topped Group D with wins over Paraguay ( 4-1 ) and Australia ( 2-0 ) before a rotated side lost 3-2 to Turkiye .
Tyler Adams , Folarin Balogun , and Chris Richards are expected to return to the starting XI.
Pochettino dismissed the favourites tag and praised Bosnia and Herzegovina for their quality and organisation.
Mauricio Pochettino has declared that the United States are fully prepared for every scenario — including a penalty shootout — as the hosts brace for a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. The American coach made the remarks ahead of what is expected to be one of the more physical knockout encounters of the tournament.
How USA Reached the Knockout Stage
The USA topped Group D with commanding wins over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), booking their knockout berth with a match to spare. Pochettino used the final group game to rotate his squad, and the side suffered a 3-2 defeat to Turkiye after conceding a late winner. Regular starters Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, and Chris Richards are all expected to return to the starting XI for the Round of 32.
Pochettino's Warning: Bosnia Are No Pushovers
Despite the USA entering the match as one of the tournament's stronger teams, Pochettino flatly rejected the favourites tag and offered a pointed assessment of the opposition. 'Bosnia and Herzegovina are a very combative, aggressive and physical team, but they are also well organised and have a very good coach. When you watch their group-stage matches or their qualifier against Italy in March, you can see they have quality. It's not just that they are aggressive and well organised; they have quality players and a coach who gives them the platform to perform,' Pochettino said.
Knockout Mentality Built Before the Tournament
The 54-year-old former Argentina defender revealed that he had been conditioning his players for the pressure of knockout football well before the World Cup began, treating every major fixture as a must-win contest. 'Of course, tomorrow is a final, but the game against Paraguay was a final too. We tried to recreate that feeling in our warm-up matches because we wanted to recreate those emotions and that intensity,' he said.
Penalty Shootout Preparation in Focus
Pochettino disclosed that his coaching staff has worked with specialist companies to sharpen the squad's penalty shootout readiness — an area that has historically been a pressure point at World Cups. 'Yes, we will be ready if it comes to penalties. We started working with a few companies in that area because I think it's really important. I don't want to say too much about it, but we have been working on it because, as a coaching staff, we believe we can give the players tools to improve and help them find the best way to deal with situations like this,' he said. Notably, this level of structured shootout preparation reflects a broader shift in how elite teams approach elimination rounds.
What's at Stake
The FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, has already produced a string of upsets in the group stage, reinforcing Pochettino's caution. 'We have complete respect for Bosnia and Herzegovina. I don't believe we are the favourites. Over the past few days, we've all seen how difficult this World Cup is. I think it's easier to talk about favourites after the matches, not before,' he added. A victory on Thursday would send the USA into the Round of 16 in front of a home crowd.
Point of View
But the more revealing detail is his admission of structured penalty shootout work with external companies — a sign that elite World Cup preparation has moved well beyond the training ground. The USA's group-stage rotation gamble, which cost them a 3-2 loss to Turkiye, was a calculated risk; bringing Adams, Balogun, and Richards back freshens the XI at exactly the right moment. What mainstream coverage underplays is Bosnia and Herzegovina's qualifier performance against Italy in March, which Pochettino himself flagged — suggesting the Americans have done their homework and are not walking into this fixture blind. The host-nation pressure, however, remains the one variable no specialist company can fully simulate.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When do USA play Bosnia and Herzegovina at FIFA World Cup 2026?
The USA face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday. The match is a knockout fixture, meaning the losing side is eliminated from the tournament.
How did USA qualify for the Round of 32?
The USA topped Group D with victories over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), securing qualification for the knockout stage with a game to spare. They subsequently lost 3-2 to Turkiye in their final group match with a rotated squad.
What has Pochettino said about penalty shootout preparation?
Pochettino confirmed that his coaching staff has worked with specialist companies to prepare the squad for a potential penalty shootout. He said the team has been given tools to handle the pressure, though he declined to reveal specific details.
Who are expected to return to the USA starting XI against Bosnia?
Regular starters Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, and Chris Richards are all expected to return to the starting XI after being rested for the final group-stage fixture against Turkiye.
Does Pochettino consider USA favourites against Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No. Pochettino explicitly dismissed the favourites tag, saying it is easier to discuss favourites after matches rather than before. He praised Bosnia and Herzegovina as a combative, well-organised side with quality players.
