Easy World Cup draw for USMNT? Pochettino says that's 'wrong mindset'

Mauricio Pochettino is warning his players against complacency following Friday's draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The United States appears to have landed in one of the more favorable groups for next summer's tournament in North America after the co-host was drawn alongside Paraguay and Australia in Group D. The quartet will be rounded out by a European playoff team in March 2026, with either Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo securing the remaining berth.

Read more: Full World Cup draw

Pochettino, though, doesn't want his players going into the supersized event thinking they can succeed with anything less than 100% effort.

"We need to build our journey step by step," Pochettino said in an interview with FOX after the draw in Washington, D.C. "And we need to prepare. When we start to play - I think the 12th of June - like it's the last game, like it's the last opportunity, like it's the final of the World Cup.

"That needs to be our mindset."

The Americans, ranked No. 14 in the world, begin their World Cup against Paraguay on June 12. Pochettino's team beat the South American outfit 2-1 in a friendly match in November.

The U.S. also defeated Australia by that same score in October.

None of the four teams in the European playoff that could settle into the United States' group is ranked higher than 25th by FIFA (Turkey).

But Pochettino isn't wavering from his messaging despite the advantageous outcome at the Kennedy Center.

"My message to the players is: 'We need to compete better than Paraguay. That is going to be difficult. Australia is going to be difficult, and the team that is going to join us will be difficult,'" the head coach said.

The bench boss added that going into the tournament expecting to roll through to the knockout stage with ease is the "wrong mindset."

"We need to be strong in our belief, keep improving, thinking big, of course, and to go and to win the World Cup ... These guys are going to be really tough."