Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT era begins against Panama, as the Argentine coach aims to elevate American soccer ahead of the 2026 World Cup hosted in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager is set to make his debut with the national team in two friendly matches, starting with Panama on Saturday night in Austin, followed by a clash with Mexico in Guadalajara just three days later.
Pochettino’s arrival comes after a series of 26 matches led by Gregg Berhalter and interim coaches. These upcoming games mark the beginning of eight international windows where Pochettino will assess talent and formulate strategies leading into the 2026 tournament.
The coach emphasized the importance of patience during this initial phase. He and his staff have dedicated time not only to training but also to building relationships with the players.
Success for Pochettino will hinge on fostering a cohesive unit, where clear expectations are communicated from the coaching staff to the players.
“Of course, soccer is about competing and winning. Our fans, for sure they want to win,” Pochettino stated on Friday. “At the same time, they need to understand that during our first contact with the organization and players, we cannot push too much. We need to give time for the team to adapt to us.”
United States
USA
-218
O 2.5
Panama
PAN
+550
U 2.5
In their last encounter, Panama defeated the U.S. during the Copa América after Tim Weah received a red card. Historically, the U.S. has only won once in Mexico, back in 2012 at Estadio Azteca.
Weah is among several key players sidelined due to injuries, including Sergiño Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, and Folarin Balogun, along with occasional starters Johnny Cardoso and Chris Richards.
As co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, the U.S. automatically qualifies for the tournament. Pochettino’s mission is to guide the team to its first quarterfinal appearance since 2002 and its first semifinal since 1930.
At 52 years old, Pochettino brings a wealth of experience, having managed clubs like Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain, where he won a league title with superstars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar.
This marks Pochettino’s first role as a national team coach, making him the first foreign-born coach for the U.S. since Jürgen Klinsmann’s tenure from 2011 to 2016.
“The challenge for us is to create a team,” Pochettino remarked.
Pochettino’s roster features Christian Pulisic, who has made headlines with five goals in seven Serie A matches for AC Milan and is the first American to score in four consecutive games in a top five European league since Roy Wegerle in September 1990.
Pochettino praised Pulisic, calling him one of the best attacking players in the world right now.
“It’s nice to hear. I still have a long way to go to reach the top, the very top. I think I’m on a good path,” Pulisic noted.
However, Pochettino mentioned that Pulisic arrived at training camp feeling fatigued from his club commitments.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who was left off the 2022 World Cup roster, has returned after revitalizing his career with Colorado following a challenging period at Manchester City.
Pulisic and his teammates described their first training sessions with Pochettino as “intense.”
“Every coach has a different style. The training has definitely been intense … which has been good. I think we need to figure out exactly how we want to play,” Pulisic explained.
As for the upcoming matches, Pulisic expressed a desire for results but emphasized the importance of team chemistry.
“I don’t like to put expectations. Of course, we want to go out and get results. We want to win both games,” he stated. “But the main thing is getting to know each other and feeling comfortable as staff and as players, and just feeling confident moving forward for bigger events to come.”
Defender Tim Ream, the oldest player on the roster at 37, noted that the team is ready to absorb Pochettino’s philosophy.
“The message is that he wants to win, right? (Pochettino) has his principles, he has his ideas, but at the end of the day, it’s about winning,” Ream said. “It’s important to have that mentality as we lead into these games and beyond.”
