Ibrahimović Backs USMNT After 4-1 Paraguay Win and Australia Rout
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 20
Ibrahimović Backs USMNT After 4-1 Paraguay Win and Australia Rout
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 20
Summary
Zlatan Ibrahimović said he now believes in the USMNT after watching the hosts beat Paraguay 4-1 and then defeat Australia to reach the knockout rounds.
Those wins have shifted expectations because the U.S. has shown unusual speed, sharper ball movement and more confidence than in past World Cups.
Mauricio Pochettino's side had entered the 2026 tournament with modest forecasts—many expected only a group-stage escape or a round-of-16 ceiling despite home-field pressure.
The back-to-back victories have turned the conversation from merely surviving as hosts to whether the United States could make a deeper run in 2026.