The US team with an Argentine accent will prepare for its presentation at the 2026 World Cup, and has decided to give the leadership to coach Mauricio Pochettino, one of the coaches of that nationality with the highest fame and achievements in European football. They thus add to the trend of recognition in the American continent, where Argentines already outnumber the main national teams (eight).
There are still some thorns left in the final contract for his official offer, and the South American coach’s resume fits the relevant figure USSoccer was looking for for the job, according to what his managers let us know.
In their second World Cup on home soil, a foreign driver will again occupy the American bench. The first time, in 1994, was Bora Milutinovic, the former Serbian coach who led them to the round of 16; a remarkable achievement after their second-to-last place at Italia 90 four years earlier, and given the incipient dynamism of professional football there (they had no active Serie A).
Today, the ambitions are steeper, the ambitions are to reach at least the semi-finals, a step they have not yet reached; they have a strong professional league, and football is no longer among the last sports in terms of investment and preferences.
Although the outlook for the national team based on their recent results is not the most flattering. Pochettino’s arrival led to the dismissal of coach Gregg Berhalter, who had two spells, one in line with expectations and the other due to the disaster caused by the poor performance in the last Copa America. It is urgent for them to find a competitive level that will inspire their fans during these two years with widespread support for the World Cup.
oblique scale
“I just want to get the best possible manager who can help the team win,” said Welshman Matt Crocker, US Soccer’s sporting director, who has been linked with English football as manager of Premier League club Southampton. Progress has been made, but now is the time to turn that progress into victories. His dream was to impress Jurgen Klopp, the retired German Liverpool manager who won everything with the Reds. Klopp was not tempted.
The next plan was Mauricio Pochettino, whom Croker met at Southampton in 2013. There, the coach had a commendable season that led him to become the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, where he led a wonderful period, leading Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2018-19.
He later took over Paris Saint-Germain in France with the trio of Messi, Neymar and Mbappé, winning the league title and the French Super Cup, without reaching the Champions League goal. He will return to English football to coach Chelsea last season, where they finished sixth, making room for some young players. Although he had a contract for two more seasons, he ended it. Given his availability, valuable CV, fluent English and friendship with Croker, the circle was closed for his election.
His stages as a player, in which he worked as a distinguished and reliable central defender, as well as in the role of coach, Pochettino developed mainly in Europe, formulating his vision between South American and European football. His entry as a player was opened by the Espanyol club in Barcelona; this club would also be the first to lead him as a coach. France and England are the other two countries where he left his mark.
United States Moment
The Argentine coach should not feel too much pressure in his early days with the US national team; the schedule of commitments they will soon face is friendly matches, they do not have to play World Cup qualifiers and the only official competition (if it happens) will be the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, about which there is still much clarity. About its realization because of the Club World Cup on the FIFA agenda. Two events that could clash as they are both designed to be held on American soil.
Without forgetting the vague performance in the Copa America, Pochettino will not receive a team without prospects or qualities; this class is considered the “golden generation” of American football. Never before have they had such a presence in European football as they have in this decade, among them Christian Pulisic, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Yunus Musah, etc.
After an acceptable World Cup in Qatar where they reached the last 16, there is an expectation that with Pochettino, because of the work he has shown with young players and his tactical methods, which can help them take the qualitative step they have been missing; not to remain in another golden generation that has not achieved a bright goal.
The question is whether Pochettino can adapt to take what he has learned and developed at professional clubs, where contact and communication between coach and player is a daily affair, to the national team, with contact times conditioned by what the national team is subject to. Pochettino has 20 caps for Argentina and played at the 2002 World Cup. He knows the passion that comes with wearing the national shirt, but this will be his first time managing a team. Successful club coaches have not always been able to replicate their achievements by managing the national team.
Panama, road test
If it comes to fruition these days, Pochettino’s first commitments with the North Americans will be three scheduled friendlies: the first on September 7 against Canada; three days later, on September 10, they will be followed by New Zealand; then on October 12 at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, they will host Panama.
Panama has become an atypical team that has had an impact on the future of the Americans in recent years, Gregg Berhalter’s arrival as technical director in 2018 as a search for a way out after the failure of his removal by the team’s channel team. World Cup 2018, the place they “secured” before the deadline.
Gregg Berhalter’s early dismissal from his second term, which was due to end after the 2026 World Cup, ended with Panama’s 2-1 defeat in the group stage of the Copa America, leaving them with one of their most critical matches. A poor and painful performance in this tournament. A convincing win over Panama on October 12, in the third friendly match that he should arrive with a better knowledge of the team and players, will be the minimum that Pochettino must offer, and failure to do so could become the first thorn in his career. The throat from the road that begins.
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