Everyone is focused on France, Argentina, England and Brazil. Understandably. But somewhere in the conversation about who can win this World Cup, people keep forgetting the hosts. The USA are going to be a serious problem for someone in the knockout rounds and not enough people are taking them seriously.
Start with the home advantage because it is genuinely massive. The USA are playing in front of their own fans in sold out NFL stadiums that hold 70,000 plus people. In 1994 when America last hosted the World Cup, the atmosphere and home support pushed them to the round of 16 in their very first proper World Cup campaign. That was a much weaker squad than the one Mauricio Pochettino has assembled now. A full stadium of American fans behind their team in a knockout game is going to be an extraordinary thing to deal with for any opposition.
Pochettino is the right man for this moment. His record of overachieving with limited resources at Southampton, Spurs and PSG is exactly the kind of credential you want from a manager at a tournament. He makes teams hard to beat, well organised and dangerous on the counter. He has had two years with this group and the improvement is visible.
Christian Pulisic is the obvious star but the squad around him has genuine quality. Tyler Adams brings energy and intelligence in midfield. Weston McKennie covers ground endlessly. Antonee Robinson at left back is one of the best in that position in the Premier League. Folarin Balogun up front has pace and movement that will hurt tired defenders in the second half of knockout games.
Nobody is saying the USA will win this World Cup. But a team with home advantage, a quality manager, a young hungry squad and 70,000 screaming fans behind them every single game is not a team you want to face in the last sixteen when it matters most.
Sleep on them at your peril.
Let me know your thoughts.