The United States head into World Cup Group D with everything to prove after a turbulent build-up.It was an unconvincing run of form during the March international break that saw them comfortably beaten by elite European opposition.Pochettino is set to lead USMNT at the 2026 FIFA World CupGettyA 5-2 thrashing by Belgium was followed by a clinical 2-0 defeat to Portugal, giving head coach Mauricio Pochettino a reality check as he attempts to plot a deep run in the tournament.As a host nation, alongside Canada and Mexico, the stakes have never been higher for Pochettino who has confirmed his 26-player roster for the tournament in a glamorous ceremony in New York.Across sports, pressure like this can make or break you, and the former Tottenham Hotspur manager will hope it’s the former, rather than the latter.Clint Dempsey names ‘nightmare’ scenario for USMNT at World CupWith all eyes on the host nation, USMNT legend Clint Dempsey has only upped the stakes with an honest opinion on what it would take to consider the tournament a failure.“I think the worst thing that could happen is that for us to not get out of the group, that would be an absolute nightmare,” Dempsey said, on the Unfiltered Soccer Podcast with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard.“I don’t see how it could be possible with the new format. I actually hate the new format for the World Cup,” to which Howard agreed and raised his finger.“I hate the fact that there are more teams, I think it’s brought the quality down, there is no true ‘group of death’, the fact that eight of the third place teams can get out of the group.“I almost feels like the World Cup doesn’t start until the Round of 32, you can essentially just get one win and have a decent goal differential and then you are out.“For me, that takes some of the excitement out of the group stage, whereas when we were playing and the group stages, it felt like you had to get something from the first game, and if you didn’t it’s like ‘oh damn’.”Dempsey made 141 appearances for his national team, scoring a record 57 goals, including four at World Cups with his strike during the 2014 tournament against Ghana the fastest in USMNT history.Tim Howard agreed with Dempsey’s comments about the expanded World CupYouTube / Unfiltered SoccerDempsey made 141 appearances for his national team, netting 57 goalsYouTube / Unfiltered SoccerThe 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the most significant structural overhaul in the tournaments history. Expanding from 32 to 48 teams, the tournament introduces a new group stage format designed to balance competitiveness with global inclusion.Since the 1998 World Cup, won by the hosts France, the structure of the tournament has been 32 teams split into eight groups of four.That format produced 64 matches and a straightforward pathway to the Round of 16.The biggest change lies in how teams progress, with the top two teams in each group automatically qualify and eight best third-placed teams also advance.The US begin against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles, and talkSPORT’s Brad Friedel – a veteran of three World Cups – has picked out his starting lineup for that game at SoFi Stadium.Games against Australia and Turkey follow as Pochettino and his squad hope for a place in the knockout stages and the chance to keep their World Cup dream alive.USMNT 2026 World Cup squadGoalkeepers – Chris Brady (Chicago Fire) Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)Mauricio Pochettino has named his squad for the 2026 World CupGettyDefenders – Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)Midfield – Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Christian Pulisic (Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Tim Weah (Marseille), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América)Attack – Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Haji Wright (Coventry City)Stay up to date with all the latest World Cup Winner Odds, World Cup Top Goalscorer Odds, World Cup Group Winner Odds and all the best World Cup Betting Offers and Free Bets in our dedicated betting hub