Pochettino, the former coach of Tottenham, Chelsea and PSG, has officially been introduced to the US media, after being given the opportunity to lead the national team of this country. The US is one of the 3 co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, along with Canada and Mexico.
“We need to believe we can win. Not just win a game, but win the World Cup. We want the players to have big ambitions from day one,” said Pochettino.
In World Cup history, the US team finished third in the tournament for the first time in 1930. But in the modern football era, their best achievement was reaching the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.
The US Soccer Federation sought Pochettino after firing coach Gregg Berhalter following a poor showing at the Copa America in June. In this tournament, the US team - as the host team - was eliminated in the group stage, after beating Bolivia and losing to Panama and Uruguay.
As hosts of the 2026 World Cup, the U.S. will not qualify. They will only play in a few matches in the CONCACAF Nations League and the Gold Cup.
Pochettino will have a tough task, as he must build a US team capable of competing at the 2026 World Cup in less than two years. According to statistics, the US team has only won 1 of its last 7 matches. However, the former Chelsea coach is still very confident.
“I believe there is still enough time. We cannot use this as an excuse,” he said, adding that “belief” was the most important factor in building the U.S. team.
The Argentine coach also made it clear that he would have an open mind when it came to team selection. “For every player around the world, we will try to pay attention. We will be in many places to watch them play,” he said.
According to Pochettino, leading the US team is an attractive job. In addition, according to him, it is also a different challenge. He said: "Our team has a lot of experience in coaching at many different clubs. But this is a challenge that takes us out of our comfort zone, not only to achieve the set goals but also to renew ourselves."
Next October, Pochettino will have his first two matches leading the US team, in friendly matches against Panama and Mexico.
