Pochettino Sets Bold World Cup Vision for USMNT: "Think Big" Philosophy Unveiled
United States men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has set his sights high for this summer's World Cup. His ambitions are so lofty that he's not just aiming to capture the entire competition, but has dismissed second place as a destiny reserved for those lost to history.
Pochettino is pursuing the unthinkable. While the U.S. has traditionally excelled in women's World Cups, the men's squad has never reached a championship match. Just once in the tournament's 95-year existence has the USMNT advanced to a semifinal—occurring at the very first edition in 1930, where they played merely two matches before suffering a crushing 6–1 defeat to Argentina.
The Stars and Stripes missed qualification for the 2018 World Cup but advanced to the knockout stage in Qatar three years later. Following respectable stalemates with Wales and England, Christian Pulisic scored the decisive goal in a narrow victory over Iran to secure a round-of-16 clash with the Netherlands. Louis van Gaal's flawed Dutch side cruised to a 3–1 triumph in Al Rayyan.
Pochettino assumed control of the USMNT in September 2024 and suffered elimination in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals during his inaugural tournament as manager. The Argentine tactician guided his adopted country to the Gold Cup final on American soil last summer, only to watch them fall decisively to Mexico.
The U.S. might not even rank as North America's strongest team, yet Pochettino is scheming for global conquest. "For me, it's all about victory," he declared to Andrés Cantor in an exclusive conversation this week. "I believe if you don't triumph, what's the point? If you finish runner-up, no one recalls that. And I think we must aim to claim the title.
"Then you might say 'you make a semifinal, you reach the quarterfinals, you have an excellent tournament, and due to various circumstances, well, you cannot win.'" Pochettino rejected that notion entirely. Instead, he pointed to Morocco as a model to emulate after they became the first African country to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022, eliminating Spain and Portugal in the process.
"I believe we must give ourselves recognition and value, but I think that when you examine Morocco in Qatar, I believe they achieved what they did because they always maintained the mindset of declaring, 'I'm going to pursue it, I'm going to triumph,'" Pochettino stated.
"I believe that's essential, particularly when competing on our home turf. I think it's crucial to dream big. Having an outstanding World Cup is how you cement football as a lasting institution."
USMNT's Record at World Cups
Exit Round | Appearances (Year) |
|---|---|
Group Stage | 4 (1950, 1990, 1998, 2006) |
Round of 16 | 5 (1934, 1994, 2010, 2014, 2022) |
Quarterfinal | 1 (2002) |
Semifinal | 1 (1930) |
Final | 0 |
Winners | 0 |
Pochettino Emboldened by Recent Form
The USMNT has experienced varying results under Pochettino's guidance. Eight months into his leadership, the catalog of concerning statistics was extensive. Nevertheless, the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager has steadily crafted a unified identity from a squad filled with gifted players—even though some of their finest performances have occurred without the marquee talents.
"I believe that, considering what we've displayed in recent months, I think the squad, particularly following the Gold Cup, has discovered a method to compete, a way to elevate expectations," Pochettino expressed enthusiastically.
"We consistently discussed the principles that are becoming embedded within the team. And I think that's the foundation we're showcasing and that we aim to keep demonstrating."