During a media round‑table, Mauricio Pochettino laid out his vision for the USMNT and didn’t shy away from harsh critiques of current squad members. Can the team rise to the challenge?
He met reporters before unveiling his roster for the upcoming international break, hinting that a cultural shift is essential as the 2030 World Cup looms on the horizon.
Pochettino stressed, “We altered many habits after the last World Cup, but now we must overhaul that mindset. We need to create a group of players that are truly professional and compete the way we expect.”
He called out players who request time away, labeling the excuse as “you know now that is bulls***, right?” He wants to reshape attitudes with coaches, clubs and the players themselves.
Last summer, criticism swirled around Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah for skipping the 2025 Gold Cup, the US’s final prep tournament before the World Cup, and Pochettino made his frustration clear.
Having taken the helm less than two years before the 2026 World Cup, he now has a full cycle to mold the squad. For my money, his push to integrate prospects like Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall and Xavier Gozo will pay off.
Above all, Pochettino emphasized that his focus is fixed on the 2030 edition, set across Spain, Portugal and Morocco with three matches in South America, hoping his side can build on recent progress.
“It’s a massive job,” he admitted. “It’s a completely different job than when we arrived two years ago. Yet the excitement is palpable. We love being part of this project, guiding young players toward maturity and the right direction.”
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