Mauricio Pochettino's journey with the United States Men's National Team USMNT has been anything but smooth, though it's finally showing signs of life. Since his appointment in September 2024, the former Chelsea and PSG boss, who slammed the referee after the USA lost the CONCACAF Gold Cup final , has navigated a whirlwind of criticism, tactical tweaks, and small victories that hint at something promising ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
After a rocky start in early 2025 with four straight defeats to Panama, Canada, Turkey, and Switzerland, Pochettino didn't hide. Following the 4-0 loss to Switzerland, he publicly took full responsibility, saying the blame starts and ends with him. That accountability marked a shift. Slowly, his players began to respond, showing more belief and cohesion in matches like the 2-0 win over Japan and the 1-1 draw with Ecuador this October.
Pochettino stressed patience in his post-match comments: