United States

Since joining in September 2024, Mauricio Pochettino has frequently tinkered with the tactical structure of the USMNT. In possession, his team tend to end up in the same rough sort of shape with a situational three at the back and five players attacking the opponent's back line, but they can start from very different out of possession shapes. He has now settled on a loose 3-4-3 shape with Antonee Robinson shifting between a wing back or full back role depending on the opponent and match state. Alex Freeman's ability to play a hybrid central/wide defensive role makes it easy for the US to shift between back three or four ideas. With Robinson pushing up, Christian Pulisic is enabled to maintain a more advanced position, picking the ball up wide and then running more directly in on goal - his preferred pattern of play. On the opposite side, the other wide forward will often play more centrally behind the striker.

Chris Richards' late injury will be an annoyance to Pochettino, but there is still hope he will be back in time for some appearances this tournament. Beyond this, the other area of concern is the central midfield where it seemed as though Pochettino had only picked three natural profiles. However, we've seen him use both Weston McKennie and Malick Tillman as cover, even if it looks like McKennie is preferred higher up the field.