Mauricio Pochettino’s unveiling as manager of the USA has been big news on both sides of the Atlantic, and the former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea head coach has the World Cup 2026 in his sights.
Following the move of long time Chelsea women’s team coach Emma Hayes to the USA to manage the Stars and Stripes women, the States have taken another head coach with Stamford Bridge roots, and Poch has a strong CV to bring with him. As winner of Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France with PSG he picked up his first trophies; but he also came very close to winning the Champions League with Tottenham Hotspur as losing finalists in 2019.
He takes over a team which has lost its last three internationals but Pochettino has time to work with his new group and World Cup 2026 results are his only priority. And, having replaced Gregg Berhalter as head coach, the Argentine has urged his players to reach for the stars. He has caused people in countries like France, Spain and Argentina to raise their eyebrows by telling his team to believe they can win the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Pochettino has signed a two year contract; he’s a bright and still relatively young manager and I’m sure he’ll be linked with the world’s biggest clubs again in due course but, in the meantime, he can do himself and the USA a big favour. While Stars and Stripes fans will be happy to see their team get out of the group stage Poch is aiming higher: “Everyone thinks there is no time to prepare,” he said. “I’m on the opposite side; I believe there is enough time. I don’t want to create an excuse for players to think there isn’t enough time and have reasons not to perform.
“We have time. We need to believe we can win and not just win a game, but the World Cup. We want the players to arrive on day one thinking big.”
His words match his coaching style and the way his teams play, and Pochettino has been a leading light in the move towards high pressing and attacking football, similar in ways to Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing. But while Liverpool, under Klopp, became one of the best counter attacking sides in world football, Poch adds the mentality of building from the back with quick passing movements to work the ball into dangerous areas, overloading the opposition. And, when the ball is lost, the pressing starts again.
He has a reputation for developing young players and, having spent so long in the Premier League he can now speak English to a high standard, and that will be an important factor as he works with his new team. It’s also a vital factor in Pochettino’s focus on man-management, as one of the best motivators in the game.
The Stars who can shine under Pochettino
Of course, being the hosts of a major tournament always helps, but to beat the very best will take some doing; and if you don’t think you can win it…you certainly won’t. So the new manager will look to his best players to lift the rest of the squad to new heights, while he will work on developing the younger players as he has done so successfully in the past.
USA skipper Christian Pulisic has crossed paths with the new boss before as he was at Chelsea when Pochettino arrived in 2023 and he has been the poster boy for American soccer since 2016 and, incredibly, he’s still only 25 years old. With 31 goals in 73 internationals Pulisic is a proven match-winner on the world stage, playing as an attacking midfielder, a right winger or a Number Ten. With blistering pace from a standing start and brilliant ball control there is so much more to come from Pulisic as he showed in his debut season at AC Milan last year.
Pulisic’s Rossoneri team-mate, the 21 year old defensive midfielder Yunus Musah, has real star quality. He has an old head on young shoulders as a leader with technical ability and great strength. He made 33 appearances for Milan last term and has already won 41 caps for the USA and Musah is a player Pochettino can build his midfield around.
Fulham wingback Antonee Robinson is a real talent and, here at SBOTOP we’re watching his career closely. A raiding left back he became known as one of the very best in that position in the Premier League late term and Robinson won the Fulham Player of the Year in 2023/24. At 27 he’s approaching the prime of his career and he will be a big player for the USA in 2026.
Is there enough quality and depth in the Stars and Stripes squad to have a run at the world title? Well, the latest World Cup 2024 betting odds say Pochettino can take the hosts to the Round of 16…but he’s set his sights considerably higher.
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