Tim Ream: 'This Is The Most Important Camp' Ahead of World Cup Roster Selection | OneFootball

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino said in his press conference last week that competition for his FIFA Men’s World Cup roster is still wide open, and that message has resonated with players ahead of the two final matches before that selection.

Center back Tim Ream spoke to media Monday afternoon and expressed a similar sentiment to his head coach, saying that the team is focused on the present moment ahead of matches against ninth-ranked Belgium on Friday, March 28 and No. 6 Portugal on Tuesday, March 31.

“It’s the most important camp,” Ream said. “Just when we were in camp in November, that was the most important camp. It’s important to stay focused on the here and now.”

It’d be easy for the U.S. to look ahead and beyond this window. The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is less than 80 days away as the tournament will take place on American soil for the first time since 1994.

With that exciting prospect less than three months away, Ream said the 27 players in camp are focused ahead of back-to-back matches against two top-10, World Cup-bound opponents at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of Atlanta United in Major League Soccer.

“You don’t want to play tight and you want to have a focus,” Ream said. “You want to have an intensity, but you don’t want to feel like you’re gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. You have to play loose. You have to play with confidence and be comfortable.”

With 79 caps, Ream is the second-most experienced player on Pochettino’s current roster, trailing only forward Christian Pulisic (82 caps). Still, when Pochettino was asked last week if Ream is his first choice for starting center back, the manager used the opportunity to reinforce that no player is guaranteed a roster spot. In turn, that messaging has created a culture of fierce competition and attention to detail.

“We’re all pushing each other,” Ream said. “We all want everybody to be performing at their very best… when guys are doing that, then it creates more competition and it drives you further.”

Pochettino has encouraged competition in these final training sessions before the World Cup roster selection, which will be revealed May 26. With nothing guaranteed, Ream said that every training, every pass, every touch is the most important.

“It’s an opportunity for everybody to show what they can do and hopefully be a part of the World Cup in June,” said Ream.