It’s quite the opposite, in fact.
With the USMNT idle this February, coach Mauricio Pochettino has taken the opportunity to hit the road. The former Chelsea, PSG, and Tottenham Hotspur manager started his journey in September, made his debut in October, and has since overseen competitive matches and training camps. Recently, he organized a two-week training camp for MLS players, which concluded with two exhibition victories. Now, Pochettino and his staff are focused on scouting talent ahead of the significant Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Panama, scheduled for March 20 in Los Angeles.
England, Germany on the itinerary this month
Two weeks ago, Pochettino’s top assistants spread out across England to evaluate potential players. Chief deputy Jesús Perez visited Premier League stars Tyler Adams at Bournemouth, Antonee Robinson at Fulham, and Chris Richards and Matt Turner at Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, Miguel D’Agostino attended matches involving second-tier teams like Coventry City (Haji Wright), Middlesbrough (Aidan Morris), and Leeds United (Brenden Aaronson), meeting with each player at their training facilities. On February 6, goalkeeper coach Toni Jiménez observed Turner’s practice session with Crystal Palace. They later briefed Pochettino in London before shifting their focus to Germany, the next stop on their scouting mission.
For national team coaches, traveling to monitor players is a standard practice. Pochettino himself visited Crystal Palace last year, while Perez checked in on Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah at AC Milan, along with Weston McKennie and Tim Weah at Juventus.
The extended break between the January camp and the March matches has allowed Pochettino and his team to intensify their scouting efforts. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, the Nations League final four offers a final opportunity for the full-strength USMNT to participate in competitive matches before the tournament kicks off in two summers.
McKennie and Weah, both key players in Pochettino’s starting lineup, are anticipated to miss the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup due to Juventus’ participation in FIFA’s expanded 32-team Club World Cup. This makes it essential for Pochettino to evaluate as many players as possible over the next 16 months. The 2025 MLS season is set to begin this week, with numerous World Cup hopefuls eager to make their mark. Additionally, several candidates for the 2026 roster play in top leagues in Argentina and Mexico.
European soccer remains the pinnacle of club competition, and most top American players compete there.
“You can see the progress in the national team,” Weah mentioned in November. “Pretty much everyone’s playing in Europe.”
This highlights the importance of maintaining strong relationships between U.S. Soccer and these clubs.
A history of collaboration between clubs, U.S. Soccer
Bob Bradley’s trips to Europe are well-remembered for the extensive number of clubs and players he engaged with. Other former U.S. coaches, like Bruce Arena and Jürgen Klinsmann, also traveled frequently.
Since 2019, U.S. Soccer’s collaboration with overseas clubs has significantly improved, particularly during Gregg Berhalter’s first full year as head coach.
The medical staff of the USMNT has been sharing player information with clubs, and media teams have collaborated to produce content for various stakeholders. As top U.S. players transitioned to some of the wealthiest organizations in global sports, the standards of preparation and support have also escalated.
During the 2022 World Cup cycle, several clubs began arranging direct, overnight charter flights back to Europe right after qualifying matches held in places like Columbus, Ohio, and St. Paul, Minnesota, to ensure players returned home promptly.
Clubs like Fulham have had U.S. national team members for decades, establishing long-lasting relationships. Recently, staff members from Fulham, along with their NBC and USSF counterparts, coordinated a surprise announcement that Robinson was voted U.S. Soccer’s male player of 2024.
New partnerships have also emerged, especially with AC Milan, which recently facilitated a Super Bowl prediction video featuring Pulisic for U.S. Soccer’s social media platforms.
Berhalter and Stewart, both former USMNT players, utilized their extensive networks built during their careers abroad. Although Stewart left the USSF in early 2023, he now serves as sporting director for PSV Eindhoven, where several American players, including Sergiño Dest, Richy Ledezma, Ricardo Pepi, and Malik Tillman, are currently playing.
Open doors across Europe for Pochettino and his assistants
Pochettino arrived in the United States with a strong reputation as one of Europe’s most esteemed coaches. His managerial career spans 15 years across England, France, and Spain. His assistants—Perez, D’Agostino, and Jiménez—have been by his side for most of that journey, creating an extensive network that benefits the U.S. team.
This network will be invaluable as the team prepares for the March match and the 2026 World Cup.
“From the moment we were in New York for the announcement of our joining the USA men’s national team, we started working on many things—via Zoom, phone calls, and of course, watching games,” Pochettino stated in October after naming his initial squad.
Four months later, that groundwork is well established.
“For players with potential, we will strive to create these connections and relationships,” Pochettino added. “I will follow them, encourage them, and there will be opportunities if they perform well.”
