How Mauricio Pochettino can turn Team USA into a soccer powerhouse
As his tenure in charge of the US men's national team begins, the Argentine manager has set some lofty goals
Football
Mauricio Pochettino has faced his challenges in management, but the one that lies ahead is unlike any other.
Pochettino is taking the dive into international football, assuming the weighty role of head coach of the United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Taking charge of the Stars and Stripes is a challenge in itself, but doing so on the eve of their first home World Cup in over 30 years adds another layer of pressure that will push Pochettino to the limits.
Nonetheless, he cannot wait for the opportunity.
“We need to believe we can win,” Pochettino said at his first press conference in September, “not win just a game, but to win the World Cup.”
Pochettino takes charge of his first USMNT match in a friendly against Panama on 12 October. So how can he turn club coaching expertise into international management success?
Mauricio Pochettino, experienced in managing across Europe
This is Pochettino’s first job in international football, yet his domestic track record offers a glimpse into his expertise and project building.
He started coaching at RCD Espanyol, the LALIGA club where he spent almost a decade as a player, saving them from relegation despite joining halfway through the season.
The Argentina international defender then led English Premier League outfit Southampton to their highest league finish in a decade, before being snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur and guiding them to a maiden UEFA Champions League final.
Spells at Paris Saint-Germain in France and back in London at Chelsea gave Pochettino the chance to coach some of the biggest and brightest stars in world football, though with that came the challenge of man-managing those big names.
He leaves behind two of the toughest club environments to enter another realm, from the demands of the boards to the weight of a nation.
Pochettino managed Kylian Mbappé at Paris Saint-Germain during his 18-month spell in Paris.
Pochettino’s World Cup ambitions
To take on a national team job ahead of that country hosting the World Cup is no easy feat; Pochettino knows that.
Many believe the USMNT needed someone like him though: a coach with experience of improving young players, to inject new energy into a squad and setup with so much untapped potential, and not a bad one at that, with the US ranked 18th in the world.
“Every player now has the door open. If they perform we are going to be there watching,” Pochettino explained. “I think it’s about creating something special. That is the most important thing. We are here because we want to win. We are a very successful coaching staff.”
Do not doubt that the US have a strong squad. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Weston McKennie are thriving in Serie A and offer valuable experience.
Yunus Musah (left) and Christian Pulisic are some of the standout players in the USMNT.
Though injured for the October internationals, Timothy Weah and Gio Reyna are raw talents who have started to shine but have plenty more to come.
It is with the latter group where 'Poch' should himself shine, a manager with a proven track record of developing young talent and giving them pivotal roles in his squad.
Pochettino taking inspiration from Emma Hayes
Comparison may be the thief of joy, but when the US women’s national team are world number one and Olympic champions, it is impossible not to look towards them.
There is no harm too in seeking inspiration from the USWNT, especially as they embark on a new era with Emma Hayes at the helm.
Pochettino worked alongside Hayes in his sole season at Chelsea, which was Hayes’ 12th and final season in charge of the Blues' women's team.
When Pochettino was asked about Hayes in his maiden press conference, he was pleased to hear her name. “We have Emma, for me, the best coach,” he admitted. “I want to say hello, Emma, I don’t know if you’re here or not!”
Hayes guided Team USA to Olympic gold at Paris 2024 just three months after taking over full-time, setting them up perfectly for the next World Cup cycle. She also made the switch from managing a club to a country, and efficiently implemented changes in philosophy and mentality that proved decisive for the USWNT – can Pochettino do the same?
We should know the answer when the US take to the pitch for their FIFA World Cup opener on 12 June 2026.