Ricardo Pepi rewarding USMNT’s World Cup trust after injury struggles
In part due to injuries, the 23-year-old had struggled to leave much of an impression with the national team under Pochettino, aside from a strong performance against Jamaica in the Nations League
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World Cup 2026 Soccer Ricardo Pepi rewarding USMNT’s World Cup trust after injury struggles By Ethan Sears Published June 21, 2026, 9:17 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google IRVINE, Calif. — Of all the scenarios and lineup permutations discussed and debated for the possibility Christian Pulisic wouldn’t play in Friday’s match against Australia, only the most clairvoyant among us saw Ricardo Pepi coming. The two-striker setup Pochettino deployed in the 2-0 win against the Aussies was a total departure from everything the U.S. men’s national team had done over the past year. Pepi, making his first start at a World Cup next to Folarin Balogun, played his role excellently, and the chess move worked as intended.
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