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Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that the absence of World Cup qualifying matches proved to be a significant "problem" for the U.S. men's national team.
The Stars and Stripes secured automatic qualification for this summer's tournament as one of the three host nations, alongside Canada and Mexico, meaning they were limited to a series of international friendlies in the lead-up to the competition, while the other 45 participating nations had to battle through competitive fixtures to earn their spots.
Pochettino pointed to those "non-official games" as a key factor behind the USMNT's erratic performances. Most notably, his side suffered back-to-back friendly defeats to Belgium and Portugal by a combined score of 7–2 during the March international window.
"We knew it would be a problem, how to approach the games, because we have already qualified," Pochettino said on The Overlap podcast. "Friendly games is what you play with your friends.
"We are fighting to change that mindset. [We] need to create that habit that we are fighting."
The Stars and Stripes have repeatedly faced criticism for their apparent lack of passion, effort and dedication on the field. Far too frequently, the players in red, white and blue appear disengaged and lacking the fighting spirit needed to represent their nation, a mentality that must be overhauled this summer if they hope to mount a serious run on home turf.
USMNT's Inconsistency Raises Alarm Bells Ahead of World Cup
Pochettino may have a point in suggesting the team would display greater intensity and determination in competitive qualifiers rather than friendlies. However, the evidence does little to back up that claim.
Since taking charge of the USMNT in September 2024, Pochettino has guided the team through two tournaments—the Concacaf Nations League and the Concacaf Gold Cup—sandwiched between numerous friendlies, and the outcomes were equally disappointing.
The Stars and Stripes delivered underwhelming displays against Panama and Canada in the 2024 Concacaf Nations League, finishing fourth in a competition they had previously only ever won. Then during the 2025 Gold Cup, several of the USMNT's key players, including Christian Pulisic, chose to sit out the tournament, leaving Pochettino relying heavily on MLS-based players in a squad that ultimately fell to Mexico in the final.
The team appeared to find their footing toward the end of last year, stringing together a five-match unbeaten run that featured convincing victories over Japan, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay, only to return in 2026 with consecutive losses to Belgium and Portugal.
Regardless of the competition format, the USMNT has a troubling tendency to underperform when the stakes are highest, which raises serious doubts about their prospects at the World Cup.
Pochettino Draws World Cup Inspiration From Past Underdogs
Even at their peak, the USMNT is not equipped to consistently compete with the world's elite nations, such as reigning world champions Argentina and defending European champions Spain. Nevertheless, Pochettino remains confident his squad can make a real impact this summer.
When asked whether the USMNT could lift the World Cup trophy, he responded, "Why not? It is all about belief. Look at Morocco in Qatar—I think anything is possible in football."
Morocco stunned the world by reaching the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a feat nobody had anticipated from the African side. With the advantage of a passionate home crowd behind them, Pochettino believes his team could potentially replicate a similarly remarkable run.
To achieve that, the Stars and Stripes will need Pulisic to snap out of his current slump. The attacker is enduring the worst dry spell of his career, having failed to score for either club or country in 2026. The USMNT's fortunes are closely tied to Pulisic's, heaping pressure on the AC Milan star to rediscover his scoring touch before he is called upon to lead the attack at the World Cup.