Can Mauricio Pochettino fix the USMNT before the 2026 World Cup?

U.S. men’s soccer made history on Wednesday with the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as head coach of the national team.

U.S. men’s soccer made history on Wednesday with the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as head coach of the national team. The Argentine boasts a CV far more impressive than anyone who’s come before him in the role. And he racked up his resume by accomplishing what previous American coaches failed to deliver time and again: beating teams that were better than his.

“His track record speaks for itself,” said U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker in a statement following Pochettino’s appointment earlier this week. “He is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad,” Crocker added.

The task at hand for Pochettino isn’t short on challenges. As hosts of the next World Cup, the U.S. automatically qualifies for the tournament. The lack of qualifying matches means fewer competitive opportunities ahead of the summer of 2026 where Pochettino can test the team’s mettle against opponents with something on the line.

And the squad Pochettino is inheriting is coming off a recent failure at the Copa America, where the U.S. failed to advance past the group stage.

The last three teams Pochettino has managed, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham, all featured superstars of the world’s game. While the U.S. can boast AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic, the talent at Pochettino’s disposal can’t compare to the star-studded squads of his recent past.

https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/soccer/can-mauricio-pochettino-fix-usmnt-2026-world-cup-rcna170677

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