United States of America head coach Mauricio Pochettino walks off the field after the first half of a Concacaf Nations League semifinal match at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
A few days after US men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino proclaimed that the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup could win the trophy, his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Panama in the CONCACAF Nationa League early on Friday.
The former Spurs, PSG and Chelsea coach has taken up the position to lead USA through their home World Cup. His beginnings with the struggling team did lead to a momentary turn of good fortune, with USA winning three successive games.
But the laboured performances made it clear that he, too, is struggling to get a tune out of the players at his disposal. And after substitute Cecilio Waterman scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to give Panama the shock 1-0 win over them in California on Thursday, the problems were laid bare.
His side’s disappointing result may be underscored by Pochettino’s optimistic words in interviews with the media this week after meeting US President Donald Trump and speaking about Trump’s meeting with FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino.
Pochettino said he overheard Trump asking Infantino if the United States had any chances to win the World Cup in 2026. He believes they do.
“If he asked me (if USA can win the World Cup), I will say yes,” he told Sky Sports. “With the help of President Trump and with the fans behind us as we host the World Cup, all is possible.”
In an interview with The Guardian, Pochettino explained how he admired the winning mentality of American sport. “For us, the pressure is going to be there (in 2026),” he said. “It’s a country where the mentality is about winning. In sport, in everything that Americans are involved in, they want to win. The players know it’s going to be massive pressure and now our president (Donald Trump) likes to put pressure on, but it’s welcome. That means we are going to feel the adrenaline we need to feel. We are ready to deliver.”
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Given his team’s latest performances, though, the Argentine coach may need more than just blessings from the President to turn his side’s fortunes around.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
