<p>Speaking at the ‌U.S. training base in Irvine, California, the defender said the co-hosts were well aware of the expectations ‌surrounding them but insisted the players were putting the greatest demands on ‌themselves.</p><p>"<strong>This is a once-in-a-career opportunity</strong>," Ream said during a press conference before a public training ‌session that attracted more than 5,000 fans under sunny Southern California skies.</p><p>"<strong>With ‌that comes more expectation, more pressure, but at the same time, we have to enjoy it. There's nobody putting more expectation and more pressure on us than ourselves</strong>."</p><p>The United States, who are ‌co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, ⁠will begin their campaign in front of ‌home supporters, an occasion several players described as both emotional and motivating.</p>

Embrace everything

<p>Ream, one of ​the squad's most experienced players, said he had encouraged younger teammates to take in the scale of the moment rather than be consumed by ​it.</p><p>"<strong>It's about just opening your eyes and taking everything in, because this is unique, this is different</strong>," he said. "<strong>Take it in, enjoy it, embrace everything that it ⁠is because it is so ​unique, it's so special and it's not something that we'll ever get to do again</strong>."</p><p>Forward Folarin Balogun said representing the United States at a home World Cup carried special meaning after his international journey.</p><p>"<strong>I feel like my individual journey is a bit ‌full circle now,</strong>" said Balogun, who was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents and moved to London when he was just one month old.</p><p>"<strong>The opportunity to represent my nation in front of a home crowd is going to be something special for me, for my family, for my friends and for the team.</strong>"</p>

Fantastic Opportunity

<p>Striker Ricardo Pepi said the squad was trying to frame the tournament not as a burden but as a chance to represent the country, their families and each other.</p><p>"<strong>At the end of the day, we see this as a fantastic opportunity to ‌be able to play in front of our country, in front of our people,</strong>" ​Pepi said. "<strong>Just a little bit of the pressure aside, I feel like ‌we see it more as an opportunity</strong>."</p><p>Goalkeeper Matt Freese, reflecting on his path to the squad, said the moment was the result of years of work without guarantees.</p><p>"<strong>You dream of this opportunity, you work for the opportunity, but you never know if it's going to come,</strong>" Freese said.</p><p>"<strong>Pressure makes diamonds, and ⁠I think we're a group of ⁠26 guys that wants to show ‌that we're a bunch of diamonds.</strong>"</p>