New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan sent a congratulatory Team USA message to Mauricio Pochettino after he posted a clip wishing the USMNT boss and the squad luck for the World Cup. With Tim Ream captaining the host nation in a group featuring Paraguay,
Game day arrived for the USMNT, and so did a message that carried more than good wishes.
Mike Sullivan — head coach of the New York Rangers — used X to send a short. direct salute to Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the United States’ World Cup opener against Paraguay. Sullivan said it was “Team USA match day” and posted a clip that began with his own credentials: he described himself as the head coach of the Rangers and the US Men’s Olympic Gold Medal hockey team.
“Hi guys. it’s Mike Sullivan. head coach of the New York Rangers and the US Men’s Olympic Gold Medal hockey team. Just wanted to reach out and wish Mauricio Pochettino all the best in the World Cup, moving forward. Go USA. we will be rooting for you. ” Sullivan said in the message shared by the Rangers’ official account on June 12. 2026.
The timing matters. The USMNT. under Pochettino. are opening their World Cup campaign against Paraguay with Canada and Mexico listed as the other host nations. The United States will begin the tournament with Tim Ream named as captain. and the group stage set their path as Paraguay. Australia and Turkey.
There’s history pushing the urgency. The USMNT lost to the Netherlands in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. and they have not reached the semifinal stage since 1930 — a drought that even the tournament’s return to home soil can’t erase overnight. The Americans’ most recent run at that stage came in 2002, when they reached the quarterfinals.
Still, this squad comes with a different kind of promise: the talent and the familiarity with elite competition. Pochettino is leading a US side that Christian Pulisic anchors in attack. and the roster includes players who have already proven themselves on the European stage. Folarin Balogun, 24, has made his name in France. Timothy Weah — the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah — flanks the midfield. where Gio Reyna and Juventus star Weston McKennie also factor heavily.
Defensive question marks and uncertainty around the goalkeeping squad have lingered around the team, but the immediate expectation is clearer: the USMNT have what they need to advance out of their group.
The contrast between all that scrutiny and the message from Sullivan is what makes the moment land. As a coach who helped end a 46-year drought for Team USA at the Winter Olympics. Sullivan’s words arrive with a familiar theme: support. momentum. and the sense that this time — starting with Paraguay — the US can finally take the next step.
USMNT Mauricio Pochettino Mike Sullivan New York Rangers Paraguay World Cup 2026 Tim Ream Christian Pulisic Folarin Balogun Timothy Weah Gio Reyna Weston McKennie
Rangers coach rooting for USMNT is kinda random lol but okay go USA.
Wait Tim Ream is the captain? I thought it was like someone else… anyway Paraguay better watch out.
Pochettino hype but goalkeeping question marks have me nervous. Also didn’t the US lose to Netherlands in 2022 so why are we acting like this is new? feels like same stuff every cycle.
Mike Sullivan sending a message and saying he’s head coach of the Rangers and the hockey Olympic team… I mean good for him but soccer isn’t hockey. Half of these players probably don’t even listen to coaches anyway. Paraguay is always the tough game, then Canada and Mexico will “suddenly” become easy, calling it now. Also Tim Ream captain sounds like a weird choice to me, no offense.