With the countdown officially hitting zero and the USMNT set to kick off their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign tonight against Paraguay in Los Angeles, the soccer conversation took center stage on the afternoon airwaves.
Pittsburgh Soccer Now Managing Editor John Krysinsky joined Tim Benz (filling in for Mark Madden) on 105.9 The X this afternoon to dive deep into the big-picture storylines surrounding the tournament.
John and Tim didn’t just look at tonight’s tactical matchup; they tackled the macro-questions on the minds of sports fans across the region:
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The USMNT’s chances to advance in knockout stages
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Pochettino’s Blueprint: Whether the new manager has truly settled on a system after the roller-coaster send-off friendlies against Senegal and Germany.
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Tournament Predictions: John reveals his definitive tournament favorites
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What about the goalkeepers– who stands out?
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The Bar for Success: What constitutes a successful run on home soil for this young American squad?
🎧 Listen to the Full Interview:
⚽ Get Ready for Kickoff Tonight!
The USMNT takes the pitch at SoFi Stadium tonight at 9 p.m. EST. I
Stay tuned to Pittsburgh Soccer Now all month long for our own unique takes and coverage of the World Cup, including post match takeaways and special features on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast as we partner with area coaches and journalists along with Pittsburgh’s own Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News to bring you unmatched local and national coverage of the 2026 World Cup.
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