Austin.- A new era is about to begin for American soccer led by an Argentine coach whose results are expected in the 2026 World Cup at home.
Former Tottenham and Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino will debut with the United States national team with a pair of friendlies, first against Panama on Saturday in Austin and three days later against Mexico in Guadalajara.
Pochettino was not present for the first 26 matches of the World Cup cycle and in which Gregg Berhalter and three interim coaches were in charge. This is the first of eight international windows Pochettino will have to evaluate his players and develop tactics ahead of the tournament.
Pochettino suggested patience is needed. The coach, his staff and the players spent this week not only training but getting to know each other.
Success will be measured by how well the staff and players get to know each other, how organized they are, and how well the team sends a clear message to the players about its expectations.
“Of course, football is about competing and winning. Our fans surely want to win,” Pochettino said on Friday. “At the same time they have to understand that in our first contact with the organization, players, we cannot push too much… We need to give the team time to adapt to us.”
Panama beat the United States in July at the Copa América after Tom Weah received a red card in the 18th minute for punching an opponent. The United States has only won once in Mexico, a friendly in 2012 at the Azteca Stadium.
The United States automatically qualifies for the 2026 World Cup as a host alongside Mexico and Canada. Pochettino has the task of taking the United States far in the tournament and in which they have not played the quarterfinals since 2002 and the semifinals since 1930.
The 52-year-old Argentine has managed several teams in Spain, England and France, but has never led a national team.
“The challenge for us is to create a team,” Pochettino commented.
His first call-up included Christian Pulisic, who has five goals in seven Serie A games with AC Milan this season. Pochettino considered Pulisic one of the best strikers in the world at the moment.
“It’s nice to hear it. I still have a long way to go to reach the top, the highest peak, but I think I’m on the right track,” said the player.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who was left out of Berhalter’s squad for the 2022 World Cup, returned after reviving his career with Colorado after a disappointing spell at Manchester City.
Defenseman Tim Ream, the oldest player at 37, said this week that the team is ready to take it all in.
“The message is that you want to win, right? (Pochettino) has his principles, he has his ideas, but at the end of the day it is about winning.”
