Mauricio Pochettino has now been in charge of the US Men's National Team (USMNT) for 18 months, and it’s no surprise that he believes the U.S. is still far behind the World Cup favourites. It is a fair assessment.
While the country gears up to co-host the 2026 World Cup, the fan expectations are high, especially among those who may not fully grasp the intricacies of soccer but still dream of the U.S. lifting the trophy.
Pochettino, however, is setting more realistic goals. He has stated that reaching the quarter-finals would be a significant achievement for a country lacking a true star. In doing so, he’s already dampened the hopes of fans who are hoping for a deeper run. Pochettino’s message is clear: the U.S. needs to address its soccer development on a fundamental level before aiming for the top.
The USA hasn't adopted soccer yet, so Mauricio Pochettino is limiting the USMNT's objectives
According to Pochettino, the country must work on fostering a deeper emotional connection with the sport, especially at the youth level. Bridging this gap is crucial, as it will lay the foundation for long-term success. Only then, he suggests, can the U.S. truly compete with the world’s elite teams and begin to entertain aspirations of being the best.
In a recent appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, he vocalized a long-standing cultural distance that he sees with American kids to soccer hijacked by their love for basketball and American Football.
“The difference within other countries... the way that I developed my emotional relationship with football is before I started to walk because I started to kick the ball.” he added. “The relationship is with basketball or American football. They take the ball with their hands, first thing.”
That idea may help explain the burning question many USMNT fans are grappling with, or struggling to accept: why doesn’t a nation of 330 million people produce its own superstar, like a Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal?
The former Premier League manager is justified in his assessment that early immersion with a ball at one’s feet is uncommon in a country where athletic talent is abundant. You could say the blame also lies at the facilities and opportunities from an early age.
The manager fails to put a ceiling on the limitations of this group with the added emotion from the red, blue and white army that will be in Seattle, Los Angeles and beyond. He will be hoping this is the kickstart of their culture and love for the game for many World Cups to come.
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