Gregg Berhalter, the former head coach of the United States men's national team, believes Mauricio Pochettino's squad is capable of making a major impact at the upcoming FIFA World Cup — and of accelerating the growth of football across the country.

Berhalter, who led the United States through their return to the World Cup stage, expressed confidence that the current setup under Pochettino has the quality and ambition to accomplish something truly significant on home soil when the tournament arrives.

The former coach also framed the World Cup as a broader opportunity — not just a footballing milestone for the squad, but a chance to deepen the sport's roots in a country where its popularity continues to rise ahead of one of the most high-profile editions of the tournament in its history.