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Soccer's rulebook continues to evolve, and the U.S. men's national team is leaning into that reality as head coach Mauricio Pochettino steers them toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The USMNT earned a morale-lifting 3–2 victory against Senegal in the first of two pre-tournament warm-up matches on Sunday, during which the 54-year-old Argentine tactician made headlines by pulling out his laptop during the brief three-minute water break—a move rarely seen from any coach at this level.
Midway through the opening half, at the first of two mandatory hydration stoppages introduced by FIFA, Pochettino had analyst Alec Scott hold the laptop steady while the players crowded around him as he walked them through a rapid tactical breakdown.
"I think it's very helpful for the players to see actions," Pochettino said following the match, which featured Christian Pulisic scoring a goal and adding an assist in an encouraging return to form. "It's not only to tell what you want (them) to improve, or what they need to do. When they see the image, it's really important now."
Hydration breaks were first brought into the sport ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as a way to address the extreme heat conditions in which matches are played around the globe. Typically triggered only when temperatures become dangerously high, at the 2026 World Cup they will also double as three-minute commercial breaks, effectively dividing matches into four quarters instead of the traditional two halves.
Historically, players have gathered along the touchline during these stoppages to drink water and receive minor treatment, with minimal input from the coaching staff. Pochettino's innovative approach, however, could transform the game—provided it's permitted.
"We'll see now in the World Cup if they can allow that," Pochettino said.
Why the USMNT Might Abandon Tactic
FIFA has yet to issue any formal guidance on whether the USMNT and other nations may utilize technology during hydration breaks. While players and analysts routinely use tablets on the bench, full-scale coaching sessions during stoppages have not yet been officially addressed in the regulations.
That could change at the World Cup, as FIFA works to keep its rules in step with the sport's rapid development. Additional questions remain, including whether players are permitted to step off the official field of play during these breaks and whether there will be any cap on technology use, as teams may look to employ more advanced tools beyond simple laptop video clips.
On Sunday, a screenshot of Pochettino's mid-game session went viral, and viewers watching the TNT broadcast could briefly hear his tactical instructions before a staff member moved in front of the camera and prompted him to wrap up the session.
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In-game tactical adjustments are nothing new. For most sides, halftime typically involves a quick physical check and an emotional reset, followed by lead analysts—often not the head coach—reviewing key tactical points from the first half. The new water breaks now create additional windows for that kind of input, even if in a much more compressed form.
Whether Pochettino will continue using the tactic with the USMNT is still unclear. It may have been employed simply as the 26-man roster continues to build chemistry ahead of the tournament.
The USMNT will face Germany in their final pre-World Cup friendly on Saturday at Soldier Field in Chicago, before kicking off their 2026 World Cup group stage campaign on June 12 in Los Angeles against Paraguay.