Why Mauricio Pochettino’s U.S. team is being watched closely
In September 2024, the U.S. Soccer Federation appointed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach, a major shift for the Argentine manager, who had spent his career coaching top clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Tottenham. It was his first job leading a national team, and it came in a country where soccer is still not the main sport.
The move followed a disappointing Copa America campaign, in which the United States went out in the group stage. Federation sporting director Matt Crocker said after that exit, “We are going to bring in a top-level coach, at a level not seen on the sidelines in the United States. The national team is crying out for change.” Pochettino was hired to deliver that change, with officials banking on his experience, attacking mentality and ability to develop young players.
The article says U.S. soccer is in the middle of a broader transformation, with investment growing at every level. That is visible in MLS, which has shifted from a league once seen as a retirement destination for aging stars into one focused on developing young players and preparing them for top leagues abroad.
Pochettino’s style relies on high pressing, fast attacks and compressing space in the opponent’s half. Fullbacks push up consistently, while center backs hold a line close to midfield to trap rivals and force turnovers in dangerous areas. Christian Pulisic is central to the attack, and Gio Reyna’s fourth goal against Paraguay, a curling strike from the edge of the box, was cited as an example of the team’s firepower.
The concern is defensive fragility. Pochettino’s teams have often been vulnerable at the back because of the high line, and the U.S. has shown the same pattern, scoring heavily but rarely keeping clean sheets. That was true in a 4-1 win over Paraguay and a 5-1 friendly win over Uruguay, both of which also featured goals conceded. The bigger worry is against top opposition, with painful losses over the past year to Belgium, Germany and Portugal. Even so, the current tournament draw is relatively favorable, with opponents such as Australia and Paraguay. The coming weeks will show whether the U.S. is ready to turn promise into a real success on the biggest stage.
