USMNT
How the USMNT are moving against Trump’s immigration ideas
Amid Trump’s new term, the USMNT faces major changes ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

With Donald Trump back in office, the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) is undergoing significant changes as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup.
Just over a year and a half separates the United States from hosting the next World Cup, which it will share with Mexico and Canada. As the grand soccer celebration approaches, the country is experiencing a period of transition both in sports and politics. For the second time, Donald Trump is serving as president, raising numerous questions about what his controversial leadership might mean for the nation.
Under Trump’s renewed leadership, the U.S. will continue its preparations for the World Cup, focusing on sports, economics, and planning. All eyes will be on the president and his stringent policies, which have been widely discussed.
Trumps’s tough deportation policy not reflective of USMNT
However, this countdown to the World Cup coincides with a significant transition within the USMNT. Despite Trump’s harsh deportation policies targeting Latinos, the team boasts a strong Latino presence.
The coaching staff, led by Mauricio Pochettino, reflects this Latino influence. The Argentine coach has taken over from Gregg Berhalter, marking the first time in history that the USMNT is led by a South American. Pochettino has repeatedly emphasised his desire to bring the competitiveness and culture of other winning teams, especially Argentina, to the U.S. In Argentina, soccer is experienced differently, with a singular focus on winning—a mentality Pochettino aims to instill in his players.
Additionally, many of the national team players joining the USMNT during this World Cup preparation process have Latino roots, whether they are Mexican-Americans or Spanish-speaking players with family heritage.
As a result, more than half of the core players or those eligible for selection by Pochettino are of Latino origin, despite Trump’s tough immigration policies. Considering Pochettino’s tenure and previous cycles with Gregg Berhalter, Anthony Hudson, and BJ Callahan, the U.S. has had at least 14 dual-nationality players, most of them Mexican-Americans.
Since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the number of Latino players in the USMNT has increased. In that squad, only Cristian Roldan, Jesus Ferreira, and Luca De La Torre were part of the small Spanish-speaking group. In less than three years, this number has grown significantly with Pochettino’s arrival.
Which players speak Spanish in the USMNT?
The players on that list of Spanish speakers in the USMNT who have been called up or are options for Mauricio Pochettino are: Josh Atencio, Luca De la Torre, Diego Luna, Cade Cowell, Alex Zendejas, Benjamin Cremaschi, Brian Gutierrez, Jesus Ferreira, Diego Kochen, Brandon Vazquez, Ricardo Pepi, Kevin Paredes and Jonathan Gomez.
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Original article written by Diego Gorostieta, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.