Let’s be honest, if Canada and the United States aren’t hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Jesse Marsch and Mauricio Pochettino aren’t coaching the national teams. But, this is the world we’re living in. And, it’s pretty cool.
Three days before Marsch manages his CanMNT on Canadian soil for the very first time against Panama at BMO Field, Pochettino will manage his USMNT for the very first time against Panama on Saturday night in Austin, Texas.
On Friday, the Argentine labelled the upcoming World Cup “a massive, massive responsibility,” urging American fans to rally behind the team after so much of the fanbase was against the Gregg Berhalter project leading up to and during Copa América.
“I think it’s a massive responsibility for us to try [for] our fans to provide a sport that can be exciting and enjoyable like another sport here that leads the country,” he told reporters, making reference to the version of football that is much bigger in Texas. “I think that our responsibility is a massive, massive responsibility.”
The 1994 World Cup significantly boosted soccer’s profile in the U.S., with the revenue generated from the event playing a crucial role in the sustainability of Major League Soccer after it kicked off in 1996. Pochettino hopes to harness that same energy as they approach 2026. Winning games will certainly help.
Although this is his first international head coaching job, Pochettino says he knows the pressure that comes with this responsibility and is trying to shield his players from it.
“In soccer, players need to express themselves. They play because of their talent,” Pochettino said. “If you put too much pressure on, then you stop expressing your talent because it’s too much thought or too [many] things in your head.”
For Poch, the support of the fans is vital, regardless of the team’s performance—whether they are winning, losing, playing well, or struggling.
2024 has been a struggle for the USMNT.
Not only did the U.S. squeak into the CONCACAF Nations League final and then lose to rivals Mexico and then crash out in the group stage at Copa América, the USMNT suffered an embarrassing 5-1 loss to Colombia in a friendly.
Pochettino believes that with the backing of the fans, the USMNT can begin to regain momentum and turn the tide.
“Together, we need to build that confidence and trust that we can arrive in two years and be really competitive and to feel proud about a sport that maybe [wasn’t born] here but starts to belong here,” Pochettino said.
“That I think is going to be really important. But without the fans, it’s impossible. We need the fans … to buy this idea. If not, it’s impossible. In Germany, in Argentina, in Brazil, why soccer there is the first thing? Because of the fans.”
American fans will have fewer USMNT stars to cheer for this weekend. Sergiño Dest is recovering from his ACL tear, while Tyler Adams still isn’t healthy. Gio Reyna, Chris Richards and Alistair Johnston’s Celtic teammate Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Jonathan David’s former Lille teammate Tim Weah withdrew from the team as the Juventus man continues to recover from a hamstring issue. Folarin Balogun and Johnny Cardoso are dealing with brand new injuries. Balogun dislocated his shoulder before leaving AS Monaco.
Christian Pulisic has been in red-hot form for AC Milan and was recently labelled “the best player in CONCACAF” by former USMNT and Toronto FC forward Hercules Gomez in an interview the ESPN pundit did with Jonathan David.
After Panama on October 12 Pochettino’s USMNT will play Mexico at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron on October 15.
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