“American sports reward losers”: Mauricio Pochettino’s brutal verdict on U.S. soccer

Mauricio Pochettino has spent much of the past 18 months trying to change how the United States men’s national team thinks about soccer. Now, in the middle of the 2026 World Cup, the USMNT coach has revealed what he believes was one of the biggest obstacles.

According to Pochettino, it’s American sports culture itself.

Pochettino doesn’t hold back when asked about American soccer

In a wide-ranging interview with El País, the former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager was asked a simple question. Countries such as Spain, England and France have recognizable soccer identities, so what is the identity of the United States? His answer quickly turned into a critique of the American sports model.

“Their culture is playful. They want to play,” Pochettino said. “We told them, ‘Guys, playing soccer is one thing, competing is another.’”

The Argentine coach then pointed to one of the biggest differences between American sports and most of the soccer world - the absence of promotion and relegation.

“If you start in MLS and you haven’t won a game in three months and you’re at the bottom, what’s the consequence?” Pochettino asked.

Then came the line that immediately spread across social media.

“American sports reward losers.”

The comment touches on a long-running debate between supporters of the American and European sports systems. In most major U.S. leagues, struggling teams are often rewarded with higher draft selections the following season. The NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS all use mechanisms designed to promote competitive balance and prevent the richest teams from dominating indefinitely.

European soccer works differently. Teams that finish near the bottom of the standings can be relegated to a lower division, creating financial and sporting consequences that can reshape an entire club. Promotion and relegation systems are often cited as one reason why every match carries significance, even for teams far from a championship race. Pochettino believes that difference influences player mentality.

“If you don’t have goals, you don’t fight,” he said. “If I lose, what happens? Nothing. They just fire the coach.”

He also described American players as disciplined and professional but suggested that many arrive with a level of comfort that does not exist in traditional soccer nations.

“With a sense of complacency that isn’t good in soccer,” he said. “It took us a year and a half to change that mentality.”

The United States opened the World Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay, a performance that showcased the aggressive, high-energy style Pochettino has been trying to build since taking over the national team. Players and coaches have repeatedly spoken about a new emphasis on competitiveness, intensity and belief under his leadership.

In recent interviews, members of the squad have described a cultural shift inside the program, with Pochettino pushing players to embrace a tougher and more demanding approach than in previous cycles.

That doesn’t mean everyone agrees with his diagnosis. Critics of the promotion-and-relegation argument point out that the United States remains highly competitive in sports that operate under closed-league systems. Others argue that salary caps, draft systems and revenue sharing create parity that many European leagues struggle to achieve.

Still, Pochettino’s comments have struck a nerve because they go beyond soccer. His argument is that culture shapes competition. And if American soccer wants to become a true global power, he believes the mindset must change before the results do.

Whether that assessment is fair remains up for debate. Either way, one of the most accomplished coaches ever to lead the USMNT thinks the country’s biggest challenge may not be talent at all.

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