Mauricio Pochettino’s journey with the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) has been anything but smooth, though it’s finally showing signs of life. Since his appointment in September 2024, the former Chelsea and PSG boss, who slammed the referee after the USA lost the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, has navigated a whirlwind of criticism, tactical tweaks, and small victories that hint at something promising ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
After a rocky start in early 2025 with four straight defeats to Panama, Canada, Turkey, and Switzerland, Pochettino didn’t hide. Following the 4–0 loss to Switzerland, he publicly took full responsibility, saying the blame starts and ends with him. That accountability marked a shift. Slowly, his players began to respond, showing more belief and cohesion in matches like the 2–0 win over Japan and the 1–1 draw with Ecuador this October.
Pochettino stressed patience in his post-match comments:
The most important thing is to keep our heads up and keep going. That’s how we build our road to the World Cup.
USMNT, via their official X account, celebrate their 2-1 victory over Australia, driven by Haji Wright’s brace, a turnaround aided by a rare tactical shift under Mauricio Pochettino. This win ends a historical trend of Australia’s dominance over the USMNT, with the Socceroos unbeaten in their last four meetings since 2010.
You can already sense that steady mentality taking root. Even during setbacks, he stayed focused on progress, praising young stars like Malik Tillman, Diego Luna, and Alex Freeman for their fearless displays throughout the tournament.
His approach feels familiar to those who have followed him closely since his PSG days — a mix of intensity and calm, of fire and philosophy. That same balance came through in his reflections on Kylian Mbappé’s Real Madrid ambitions, a sign that Pochettino has always valued emotional intelligence as much as tactics.
Now, as speculation swirls about a potential Tottenham return, Pochettino has shut it all down. He said recently, reaffirming his commitment to the U.S. project:
Look where I am. Look where we are. The answer is clear.
With less than a year to go before the World Cup, the USMNT are starting to reflect their coach by being organised, relentless, and quietly confident. If the progress continues, Pochettino might just lead America’s golden generation into something special on home soil.
