Pochettino: Will keep an eye on U.S. players worldwide; aims to lead the team in playing beautiful football

Mauricio Pochettino Officially Unveiled as U.S. Men’s National Team Coach at Press Conference in New York The Argentine coach is preparing for the October 12 match against Panama.



Q: Have you watched the previous games? What are your thoughts on them, and what needs to be done as we prepare for the World Cup?
Pochettino: "Yes, we’ve watched the games. Right now, it’s difficult to make an assessment because we don’t want to be too harsh in our evaluations. The post-Copa América context is unique. The players have faced difficult circumstances in the last two matches, but the most important thing is recognizing the potential we have. These players are very talented. I want to send a message not just to those who played in the recent games or those who are based in Europe but also to the players in MLS and across the world. From this moment, we will try to keep an eye on everyone, and the door is open for all. Whether or not they are selected will depend entirely on their performance. If they show they deserve a place, we’ll notice. That’s the first idea we want to convey to the players—they need to know that if they perform well, the coaching staff will be watching."

Q: Welcome to the U.S. Your past teams were known for physical intensity, bravery, and mentality, which might be lacking in the current team. How will you instill these values when you don’t have daily access to the players as you did in club football?
Pochettino: "Yes, those qualities you mentioned are evident in many clubs. But I believe the most important thing is to set a philosophy that everyone can buy into, players and coaching staff alike. It’s not just about me and my closest assistants but also the federation staff. We need to understand them, listen to their ideas, and share ours to create our own philosophy. Of course, our style of play will depend on the players’ characteristics, and our coaching staff is very flexible. We love the beauty of football, and that’s vital to us. We want to play attractive, exciting, attacking football that the fans enjoy. We want the fans to believe in the importance of beautiful football. When we have the ball, we must move, create opportunities, and offer options to teammates. When we don’t have the ball, we need to be aggressive and competitive. We need to pass these values on to the players and build a platform where they know what’s expected of them when they join the national team. Our players are talented; we just need to provide them the best platform to express themselves freely."

Q: Christian Pulisic and a few others recently spoke about the need to change the team’s culture, rebuild motivation, and restore confidence. You've excelled at building team culture in the past. How will you change and improve this team’s culture?
Pochettino: "I think we need to clarify what we mean by 'culture.' Building something requires a philosophy. Culture is difficult to describe in words. After a disappointing performance, it’s normal for players to feel frustrated, like Christian after the last match. But I’d say that the U.S. has a winning culture across all sports. There are great athletes in every sport in the U.S., and we just need to be inspired by that in football. For me, the most important inspiration is the U.S. Women’s National Team. Emma Hayes, who I consider the best coach in the world, has been a massive influence. The U.S. women's team has won everything, and we need to catch up with them. Many years ago, when I was getting my coaching license, I coached Espanyol’s women’s team for six months, and it meant a lot to me. That will be our inspiration—not just their success but their mindset and culture of bringing glory to the country. We need to create something special."

Q: With less than ten international windows before the World Cup, how do you plan to adapt your methods in such limited time?
Pochettino: "People say there’s not enough time, but I disagree. I believe we have enough time. I don’t want the players to have any excuses, like ‘We don’t have time to adapt to a new philosophy.’ No, this is football. Once you hit the right note, it starts to work. Our players are smart and talented enough to adapt to different styles. We have time, and we must be firm in our belief that we can win every game, even the World Cup. Without that belief, it’ll be very difficult. We need the players to show up on day one of camp with ambition, and only then can we build a philosophy or mindset that allows them to express their talent."

Q: As you look at the roster—goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, forwards—what do you see as the team’s strengths and weaknesses? Is this the strongest generation of U.S. players?
Pochettino: "I don’t like to talk about weaknesses because I don’t like discussing what we lack. If we identify weaknesses, we won’t highlight them to the players. We always stay positive. We have talented players. Confidence dipped after the Copa América, but we’ll work to restore that. We have specialists in tactics, fitness, and psychology to help us regain confidence and perform as a team. This is an outstanding generation of players. Football is a team sport, and we must show that on the field."

Q: How will you spend time between international windows? Will you stay in the U.S. or travel to Europe to watch matches and stay connected with players?
Pochettino: "Yes, I plan to live in the U.S., but for various reasons, we’ll travel between Europe and the U.S. We need to build relationships with all potential national team players, not just in MLS but worldwide. We aim to establish good relationships with clubs and support the players. It’s not about meeting them once a month; we need to create an ongoing relationship where the players feel cared for. When players know you care, you can get the best out of them."

Q: You’ve been linked with other club and national team jobs. What drew you to take on the U.S. project, and why is now the right time for you to move into international football?
Pochettino: "Firstly, the people around me. That’s important to me as a person. Secondly, this challenge and the potential. There are many positive factors that made us take the federation’s offer seriously. Being here is incredibly exciting. I think it’s one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced. We’ve faced challenges before, but this project is truly inspiring."

Q: You’ve talked about inspiring belief. What’s your slogan or vision for this team?
Pochettino: "I still believe in ‘One Nation, One Team.’ Football is growing rapidly here. The U.S. has a huge fan base of 350 million people who love soccer, and this enthusiasm is becoming more evident. The development of MLS and the arrival of top players, especially Messi, has accelerated the world’s perception of U.S. soccer. Plus, the 2026 World Cup will further put the U.S. on the global stage."