Pochettino maintains his dream of winning the World Cup
The USMNT coach did not back away from his wish to win the World Cup with his team.
Why not? What’s the point of the World Cup if you can’t dream of winning it, right? Even Mauricio Pochettino, and he’s not a kid in his bedroom anymore, he’s managing one of the teams that want to actually win it.
However, given the fact that he’s the manager, it’s his job to take the US as far as he can. And therefore he knows the limitations of the squad. “I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players, or some players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have,” he admitted, presumably referring to The Guardian’s Top 100 list, after losing to both of these sides in recent friendlies.
However, speaking to The Guardian, he let his serious mask slip, revealing that: “From the day we accepted this challenge, we took that responsibility as motivation, energy. And no one sees the US as a [contender]. But you analyse other World Cups and think: ‘Why not?’ Being hosts can create synergy with the people, a support players feel. Let it give us the freedom to fly. Why not?"
Jozy Altidore would certainly agree with him. The former striker played for teams such as Sunderland, Hull City, and Villarreal, as well as the USMNT, where he achieved 115 caps, scoring 42 goals. “I don’t think our talent is far -- or much less than any other country in my humble opinion,” Altidore admitted. “I think we’re just as talented. So for me, I’m that crazy guy. I believe and I know the players believe," he said, before echoing Pochettino’s message: why not? Why not us?”
The USMNT begin against Paraguay on Friday, June 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, before facing Australia on Friday, June 19 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Lumen Field in Seattle. Mauricio Pochettino’s side then return to Los Angeles for a final group-stage showdown with Turkey on Thursday, June 25 at 10:00 p.m. ET, again at SoFi Stadium.
Yes, that is Team USA coach Mauricio Pochettino being interviewed by Grover. World Cup meets Sesame Street. I’ve seen it all now. #usmnt #worldcup pic.twitter.com/wjrPZQHYQ8
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) June 10, 2026
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