Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Hungary
Lithuania
Nigeria
South Korea
United Arab Emirates

Pochettino's US national team 'would beat all but three Premier League teams'

talksport.com, 11 March 2025, 12:12
Alexi Lalas has a lot of confidence in the USMNT.

With a World Cup on home soil to come in 2026, the former defender certainly likes what he sees from Mauricio Pochettino's team, which has won five out of six games under the recently-appointed head coach.

The likes of Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah and Antonee Robinson have all impressed in recent months, as has young star Ricardo Pepi.

While the USMNT will have hopes of going deep into the knockout rounds as hosts of next year's World Cup, which Lalas believes is more than possible, he was recently posed a different question.

During his State of the Union podcast, the former American soccer star was asked to name the best club team that the US could beat.

Lalas' answer was bold, and he suggested the USMNT could win against all but three Premier League sides on current form.

MORE FROM FOOTBALL

Man United unveil stunning new images as 100,000-seat stadium to replace Old Trafford

I made football history as first and only player to score extremely specific hat-trick

"It's an interesting question," he began.

"Keep in mind the United States are 16th in the world rankings. I think the USMNT, as we stand today, can beat everybody up to Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

"I think they could beat Chelsea, and everybody else (in the Premier League)."

Lalas then doubled down, suggesting the USMNT could also beat all but two German clubs.

Most read in Football

Bournemouth trying to persuade Iraola to stay amid Tottenham and Real Madrid interest

Man United unveil stunning new images as 100,000-seat stadium to replace Old Trafford

'Get out' - Gary Lineker awkwardly tells Micah Richards to stop flirting with Maya Jama

'Taking it incredibly seriously' - Rooney and Fury to co-manage England at Soccer Aid

He added: "When it comes to the Bundesliga, I think they could beat everybody but Bayern Munich and (Bayer) Leverkusen.

"Unless we're talking about the super clubs of a league, I think the US national team in its current form can beat all of them.

talkSPORT BET: Latest Cheltenham Festival odds and free bet offers

"MLS, I would say most of them on any given day… That's how good this US team is, and also how the elites of the elite out there, that's how good they are.

"To quickly answer the question: What's the best team out there (the US could beat?) It's Chelsea."

Lalas' claim that the US could beat 17 Premier League clubs has caused a stir amongst fans, with many suggesting he's overestimated the strengths of Pochettino's side.

"He doesn't understand how competitive the PL is. US national team would struggle against all PL teams and probably half the Championship teams," one person said.

"In the last year alone, they've lost 5-1 to Colombia, been beaten by Uruguay, Panama and Mexico. But yeah, deal with the PL big guns, no bother," another said.

"He's delusional," a third simply concluded.

Of course, it's highly unlikely a game between the USMNT and any Premier League club would ever take place, and certainly not in the build-up to next year's World Cup.

That tournament is the main focus for the Americans, and it's one Lalas believes they can indeed win.

"There's a lot of belief but ultimately the judgement of Pochettino is going to come in the summer of 2026," he said last year.

Mauricio Pochettino has pundits in stitches with 'big balls' comment about USMNT player

"We will win a men's World Cup in the future, whether it's in 2026 or the next one, it's going to happen.

"We're America, this is what we do."

Show more

Top News

21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson is reportedly set to hold 'crunch talks' with the Reds hierarchy over his future at the end of the season. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Follow all the action as Thomas Tuchel takes charge of his first game as England manager against Albania, live on talkSPORT. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea's first opponents at this summer's Club World Cup have been expelled from the competition, FIFA has announced. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly learned how long Riccardo Calafiori will be out for with a knee injury following the defender's withdrawal from the Italy squad. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has been told that Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma has the quality to play for Manchester United. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have confirmed that Alisson Becker has pulled out of the Brazil squad after the goalkeeper suffered a worrying injury scare against Colombia. 21 March 2025 talksport.com There were huge smiles at Wembley commentary with Stuart Pearce returning to action after his heart scare. 21 March 2025 talksport.com A brand new football competition begins next week as some of the sport's legends combine with famous faces for six-a-side action. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk England head coach Thomas Tuchel made the right decision not to call up Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, but the 18-year-old is still a safe bet for the 2026 World Cup squad, expert Charles Watts believes. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he and Georgina Rodriguez are not currently married despite huge speculation. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly come forward with a 'super offer' to sign Sporting Lisbon hotshot Viktor Gyokeres in the summer transfer window. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Premier League giants Manchester City will reportedly attempt to sign Swedish starlet Roony Bardghji from Copenhagen. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Lee Carsley is back in his role as England Under-21 head coach and his strong Young Lions squad take on France tonight. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Slovenia will welcome Slovakia for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League playoff tie on Sunday evening, with the contest delicately poised following a goalless draw in the first leg on Thursday night. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Reading face the prospect being thrown out of the Football League unless the club is sold imminently. 21 March 2025 talksport.com Walsall boss Mat Sadler claimed the decision not to request a postponement this weekend was 'out of' the club's hands. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea attacker Joao Felix - currently on loan at AC Milan - could apparently still be offered an escape route out of Stamford Bridge by Aston Villa this summer. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping to extend their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will try to overturn a one-goal deficit in the second leg of their quarter-final tie against Germany. 21 March 2025 talksport.com England manager Thomas Tuchel is set to take charge of his first game tonight, but he won't be singing the national anthem. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are on the verge of agreeing a new five-year contract with teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri, according to a report. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town have reportedly identified Kalidou Sidibe as a replacement for Kalvin Phillips, who could leave the club in the summer should they be relegated. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately seeking a first UEFA Nations League title this summer, Germany will conclude their quarter-final clash with Italy on Sunday evening, leading by one goal from the first leg. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez is set to name an unchanged side for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Denmark on Sunday night. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal will attempt to recover from a one-goal deficit when they welcome Denmark to Lisbon for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday night. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On top in a tussle between two football titans, Germany will aim to seal progress into the UEFA Nations League semi-finals by finishing the job against Italy on Sunday evening. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman will be forced into a defensive reshuffle for Sunday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg against Spain, with Jorrel Hato out of the match through suspension. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen is expected to make his full debut for Spain in Sunday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg against Netherlands. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk France head coach Didier Deschamps will likely axe Ibrahima Konate from his starting XI for Sunday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg against Croatia at the Stade de France. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With one half of the 2018 World Cup final revenge mission complete, Croatia seek to finish the job against France in the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday evening at the Stade de France. 21 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain and Netherlands will lock horns for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday evening, with the tie delicately poised following a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in Rotterdam.