USMNT must respond against the Kiwis, but the delay in hiring a permanent head coach is complicating matters. “It’s going to help a lot when we get a permanent head coach,” the then-20-year-old Pulisic remarked during a pivotal night in London. “A guy who has a real plan and a style of how we want to play.”
Current interim coach Mikey Varas preemptively addressed the situation at Monday’s pre-match press conference, acknowledging the anticipation surrounding the new coach. “I’ll start by saying, I know there’s a lot of anticipation of our new coach coming in, when it’s going to happen, when it’s going to be confirmed,” Varas stated. “Right now, we’re just focusing on the next game. I don’t have any information to give in regards to that.”
The players are equally in the dark about the hiring timeline. U.S. Soccer has been preparing to announce Mauricio Pochettino’s hiring for weeks, but legal negotiations with the former Chelsea manager’s representatives have delayed the process. His contract with the Blues runs until next summer, complicating the transition.
The recent match against Canada marked Varas’ debut as head coach after the dismissal of Gregg Berhalter. The U.S. team faced elimination as the first Copa host before the knockout rounds, underscoring the urgency of their situation. With the next World Cup just 21 months away and co-hosted by the U.S., the pressure is mounting.
“It can be tough in times like this, but you have to keep going,” Pulisic said on Monday. “We don’t want to just look at this as we’re in between [coaches], so these games don’t matter.”
“We need to respond,” he continued, emphasizing the need for resilience. “We need to show that no matter who the coach is, that we’re willing to fight.”
The loss to Canada was disappointing, exacerbated by a lack of urgency and intensity. Key players like Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Weah were absent due to injuries or other reasons, giving the reserves a rare chance to impress Pochettino and his staff. Unfortunately, this opportunity was largely wasted, with only a few players making a notable impact.
The upcoming match against the Kiwis presents another opportunity for redemption. How the players seize this chance will be critical.
“There’s no announcement, we’re still waiting on everything,” Pulisic said, reflecting the uncertainty. “Right now, all we can do is put ourselves in the best position so that if an announcement is made in the near future, that we’re ready, that we’re confident.”
“All we can do,” Pulisic added, “Is focus on the game.”
