Mark Cannizzaro USMNT’s ‘why not us’ World Cup belief is deserved — even as Belgium threat looms By Mark Cannizzaro Published July 3, 2026, 8:36 p.m. ET Malik Tillman #17 and Tim Ream #13 of the United States celebrate victory after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. Getty Images SEATTLE — Why not us?
“We all believe in it,’’ Tim Ream said. “We’ve all talked about it. We all say it: ‘Why not us?’ ’’
Thanks to 54-year-old Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino — who becomes more American with every verse of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” he sings after his U.S. men’s national team wins a World Cup match — this has become the mantra for the team and for the nation.
“It’s taken hold,’’ Ream, the 38-year-old U.S. defender and team captain, said. “It’s all over our hotels, it’s all over our meeting rooms and our spaces. It’s a reminder to continue to believe, and we are fully ingrained in that and continuing to believe that.’’
