It’s been two months since the US men’s national team crashed out of the World Cup in disappointing fashion, and their head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, is back at work.
The former Tottenham and PSG manager was largely viewed as a short-term hire when he joined the US in 2024, brought on to help the team capitalize on their first home World Cup in more than three decades. Along the way, Pochettino and US Soccer warmed to the idea of a contract extension, one they finalized in August.
The US will play four friendlies in late September and early October against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, but that stretch of games pales in comparison to the larger task at hand. Pochettino must guide the US to qualification for the 2030 World Cup, of course, but the Argentinian – and the federation – have more ambitious goals that involve reshaping the structure of soccer in the United States.
The US will also play at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and it’s been widely reported they may feature in the Copa América that same summer. On Monday, Pochettino joined a small circle of reporters to talk about the task at hand. His quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Pochettino’s expanded role
Pochettino has said that choosing to remain with the US for another World Cup cycle is a chance for him to “have a lasting impact on the sport in the country that has welcomed us so warmly – and for that impact to extend beyond results on the field.” Indeed US Soccer’s announcement of Pochettino’s contract renewal came with an interesting wrinkle – the federation said the Argentinian would take a more prominent role steering the direction of youth development and coaching education, and would advise on professional league collaboration and a handful of other areas.
That sort of broad influence isn’t exactly an alien concept in international soccer, but no US coach has ever taken such a prominent role in steering the direction of the program as a whole. He will not have to wait long to make his mark, as US Soccer is undergoing a significant restructuring and is in the process of filling two new director roles for the men’s and women’s senior and youth programs. On Monday, Pochettino said he’s made it clear he’s happy to help with that process – “but it can’t [just] be my guy,” he said, laughing.
“This is the future of the USA,” said Pochettino. “We want to try to perform in the World Cup and to create something special with the fans. And now it’s about being a part of the legacy that the federation wants to create – becoming one of the most powerful countries in soccer. That is a dream, no? It’s amazing. If we can be part of that, we are so excited and so happy.”
On Folarin Balogun’s deadline day drama
This summer’s transfer window was a decidedly quiet one for the USMNT. Aside from a few notable moves – Gio Reyna to Strasbourg, Sebastian Berhalter to Middlesbrough and Zavier Gozo’s leap from MLS to Crystal Palace – many players stayed put.
The list includes Monaco forward Folarin Balogun, who seemed poised for a big-money move after a breakout World Cup. Instead, Balogun saw a move to Everton fall apart at the last moment, with the Premier League club citing a potential fitness issue, something Monaco (and Balogun) both contested.
Balogun is far from the first player to suffer a deadline day letdown, and Pochettino offered support for the 25-year-old on Monday.
“Yes, it’s difficult because you cannot influence that decision,” said Pochettino. “You need to support what they are doing with the people making the decisions. In some special cases, like Flo’s, I will call in the next few days. I wanted to give him a little bit of space after that situation in Everton. I want to know from him what happened. But we are always offering our support, and that’s it. I think he’s an important player for us, he was an important player in the World Cup and I hope that he can find being in Monaco, or in another place, his best place to perform in the best way.”
Dual nationals
Pochettino said little about the 26-man roster he’ll call into camp later this month. One player we know will not be there, though, is Augsburg center-back Noahkai Banks. The German-American remains undecided about his international future and will not feature for the US this window.
The 19-year-old has said he wants to make a decision by “the next international break, or at the latest by the international break after next.” German media has reported that newly appointed Germany head coach Jürgen Klopp has gone so far as to scout Banks in person.
“We are in contact with all the potential dual nationals,” said Pochettino. “I think it’s important for us, of course, because that is the human connection that is so important. Even if they, like in that case, Noki, didn’t change his mind and is waiting still, no decision, and of course we cannot consider him for the next camp … But the organization is working with all the dual nationals and players with the possibility to make a decision. That human connection is important because if one day they feel that they can defend and they want to fight and to be part of our national team … Of course, if they deserve it, and we consider that they deserve to be involved, of course we are going to call [them up].”
Los Angeles 2028
Olympic soccer, as it always has, takes a backseat to any number of global and continental competitions. Still, the 2028 Games in Los Angeles present a massive opportunity to the USMNT, who will once again look to captivate a home audience after this summer’s World Cup.
The Games, Pochettino said on Monday, are a top priority to his staff, who are working in concert with U-23 head coach Steve Cherundolo. Curiously, Pochettino mentioned making use of this coming window to examine a handful of younger players who could feature at the 2028 Olympics.
“I think we have a core of young players that need to play the Olympic Games because I think an objective for our federation and for the country … is to try to be a contender for the gold medal. [The Games are] going to be in our country, and we are going to support that. And always the decision on the first team with the players that are in that process – we are going to take the best decision altogether, always, and to try to protect those players in the best condition, and to help them to arrive, not only being important for the first team, but important for [the] type of competition that is important for the country.”
On those young players
Pochettino has been a frequent critic of the mentality of some American players. During the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, he expressed frustration with players who he felt did not prioritize national team call-ups and sometimes seemed to struggle with soccer’s place in American culture.
On Monday, Pochettino seemed eager to change the mentality of coaches and young players who decline call-ups, sometimes citing fitness or load management concerns.
“[It’s important that young players] want to be involved,” said Pochettino. “[When a player in MLS or elsewhere] has the possibility to join the under-18 or under-19 national teams, or the Olympic Games, it’s so important to be part of them. That is another habit that we need to change. Sometimes the coaches say, you know, ‘I have a 17-year-old guy that plays in MLS,’ but when the under-19 national team calls they say: ‘No, they need to rest.’ If you’re 17 and need to rest? Ay, ay, ay. You have a big problem.
He added: “You cannot rest at 17. When I was 17, 16, or 15, all of my teammates, when we played in Newell’s Old Boys, sometimes you play two, three games in the same day. You cannot treat a 17- or 18-year-old player like a 30-year-old player. Sometimes we [treat younger players like older players], rather than settling the good principles and good habits. We make 18-year-old players like [28- or 30-year-olds]. That is amazing, no? Physically, when you are 18, the possibility to recover from one effort to another is different when you are 32. Sometimes [young] players come with the older mindset, and that is the evolution that we need to change in [American soccer.]”
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