Jürgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino are no strangers to one another.
Seven years ago, the two faced off in Madrid with a Champions League title on the line. Klopp and his Liverpool side ended up taking that Champions League final by a 2-0 scoreline, while Spurs were left waiting another six years for a major trophy.
Since then, Klopp led Liverpool to a league title, two EFL Cup triumphs, and one FA Cup. He also helped get Liverpool in touching distance of a quadruple in 2022. To date, no Premier League club has pulled off the quadruple, and one can easily argue that that season's Liverpool side was the closest to achieving it.
Elsewhere, Pochettino took charge of PSG, guiding the club through its first season with Lionel Messi. He won them the Ligue 1 title in 2021-22 while also guiding them to a Champions League last-16 appearance. After his time at PSG, Pochettino helped turn Chelsea around after their poor 2022-23 campaign; during the 2023-24 campaign, he helped guide the club to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and an EFL Cup final (which was against Klopp's Liverpool).
Almost six years after that Champions League final, the two are set to collide once more. But instead of a major trophy, it's FC Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks and his international allegiance that is at play.
USMNT is very familiar with this ongoing game, but how does Klopp's influence impact that advantage?
This isn't the first case of dual allegiances that the USMNT has had to contend with in recent times.
Case in point: Red Bull New York forward Julian Hall. Despite enjoying domestic success in MLS and having committed to the United States' youth system, Hall is also eligible to represent Poland's national team at the senior level. Given Poland's previous success when it comes to managing forward talent (Robert Lewandowski is only one name to come from this group), it's hard to envision Hall turning down the national team's efforts without giving them a second thought.
But even with the strong appeal to represent Poland in mind, the USMNT has done well to reform its approach to recruiting youth. The United States' Youth Soccer program is set to fall under the United States Soccer Federation's umbrella, ensuring consistency between the youth and senior levels of American soccer. Pochettino also commented on the plethora of youth talent available during this cycle. Though he cautioned against going all-in on younger players before they properly mature and gain experience, he expressed an interest in selecting a squad that features both veterans and younger footballers.
It is also worth noting that Pochettino and the USMNT have established communication with dual-nationals that are eligible to represent the United States. That group includes Banks.
Like Hall's situation, there is an element of appeal in the case of Banks. Despite being born in the United States, Banks is eligible to represent Germany through his mother's background. In addition, similar to how Hall would have the opportunity to work with and follow in the footsteps of Lewandowski, Banks would be able to play under a system created by perhaps the best manager in the modern game.
Klopp's ambitions in this regard are no secret: he wants to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the German national team. That means building a team and a national system that ensures passion is foundational. He wants a Germany side that can control the game, that isn't afraid to win a header or force a turnover in the opposing end, and that will leave it all on the pitch for 90 minutes.
Part of that might mean a youth movement, something that Klopp isn't unfamiliar with. That's why Banks is an important cog in his plans; the 19-year-old would bring youth and energy that are essential to Klopp's ambitions. Klopp arguably knows this; he was in attendance at Augsburg's Bundesliga match against Schalke, which saw Augsburg record a 3-0 victory. Banks recorded two tackles during the match, though he also conceded two fouls, neither of which yielded a booking. Though Banks conceded a yellow during the following match against Eintracht Frankfurt, he recorded another tackle during his 90-minute stint.
Such an ability to record those kinds of plays could be essential in a system that prides aggressiveness and a desire to get the ball up the pitch. Another means to justify Klopp trying to bring Banks into the fold in Germany.
Klopp might have the mammoth goal of transforming his home country's approach to football, and he might have turned what was a middling Liverpool side into a team capable of winning titles. But one cannot deny the appeal surrounding Pochettino. This is somebody who has his own experience and success at the club level. It might not be as pronounced as Klopp's, but it does make him one of the better managers in the modern game. At the same time, Pochettino has shown that he is capable of reforming and reinforcing the national system to better player development and build a stronger and more appealing program.
Such is especially true for the men's side of the game.
Whoever wins Banks' signature could easily transform the future of their national team
I've already mentioned in depth the positive impact that Banks could have on Klopp's ambitions in Germany. But what about the USMNT?
Sure, the system is one thing in itself, but we are talking about a defense that is aging. Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream is 38, while three defenders selected for the last World Cup (Fulham's Antonee Robinson, Celtic's Auston Trusty, and Toulouse's Mark McKenzie) will have crossed the age of 30 by the time the next World Cup rolls around. Bringing Banks into the fold gives Pochettino and the rest of the leadership group a means to reverse the aging of the defense and prevent, if not delay, a more pronounced overhaul.
Mauricio Pochettino says he's spoken to German-American center back Noahkai Banks since the World Cup. "We are in contact with all the potential dual nationals," Pochettino said, adding that Banks, 19, still isn't ready to commit his future to the #USMNT.
— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) September 7, 2026
To extend that point, if Pochettino truly wants younger talent to be involved in the direction that the USMNT takes, then Banks clearly is going to be part of that ambition.
In a way, both the USMNT and the German football federation are at similar junctures. Both nations are looking to revamp their national teams and improve on their past performances. While Germany is only starting down that road, it is the same road that the USMNT is currently on.
With Banks attracting both federations' attention, it's clear that he could very well accelerate their respective journeys down the aforementioned road, if not end one of them altogether.
Add us as a preferred source on Google