Soccer
Big names stepping up are the key to US success at the 2026 World Cup
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The US head back into action on Friday in buoyant mood after a scintillating start to their World Cup campaign on home soil.
There was some concern about how the national team may perform under the pressure of a tournament in their own backyard, but Mauricio Pochettino's men rose to the occasion against Paraguay.
Their 4-1 victory was one of the highlights of the first round of group matches, and now puts the US in a prime position to book their place in the knockout round if they can get a positive result in their second match as they take on Australia in LA.
The star of that first game was striker Folarin Balogun, who scored twice in the victory and looks as though he is finally ready to flourish as the focal point of the USMNT's attack.
Balogun has long been regarded as a forward with huge potential, having started his career in England with Arsenal, but US legend Kasey Keller now thinks the 24-year-old can live up to that hype on football's biggest stage.
"You're looking at a kid that, you know, obviously started at Arsenal and then kind of realised he wasn't going to really get some time," he exclusively told DAZN News thanks to BestOnlineCasino.
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"So he's bounced around a little bit but found a home in France and had a tremendous season at Monaco.
"I always look at a World Cup or any kind of competition, cup final, something like that. If you're going to be successful, you need your stars to be the stars. You need your role players to play their role.
"Balogun has been on an unbelievable hot streak, scoring goals for the club. So I think the stars there rose."
How far can the US go?
With Balogun scoring goals and Christian Pulisic tormenting the defence in the first half, the US look a dangerous outfit, while at the back Crystal Palace's Chris Richards carried his Premier League form into the tournament to give them some security at the back.
Of course, whatever the result against the Socceroos - who themselves were impressive in round 1 - tougher tests will most likely follow. So, for Keller, who won over 100 caps for the national team, hopes for his country?
"I think the U.S. should get out of the group. They should get out either first or second," he added.
"I think the round of 32 is going to be interesting because we've never seen a round of 32 before. And what does that look like? But I think if you get out as a top seed, your chances of then winning that knockout match are high.
"And then that round of 16, who knows? Right.
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"Then that's when it really starts to get serious. And you really have not only all the good teams left or most of the good teams left, but you have then teams that have gelled at the right moment, that have found ways to get key wins. And I think that's an important stage.
"I think quarterfinals is not unrealistic. But I'd love to see him at the very least round of 16."
A win for the US would set them on their way to topping the group and a second-round meeting with the runner-up from Group G, which could be any one of Egypt, Belgium, Iran or New Zealand after they are finished all-square after the first group matches.
First up, though, it's Australia, where the Americans will hope that Old Glory's biggest stars can shine once again.
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