Mauricio Pochettino Admits 'Problem' With USMNT Preparation
Summary
Mauricio Pochettino, coach of the United States men's national soccer team (USMNT), said that not playing in World Cup qualifying games was a challenge for the team’s preparation. The USMNT lost recent friendly matches against Belgium and Portugal and must improve their competitiveness before the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is hosting.Key Facts
- The USMNT automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup because the U.S. is a host country.
- Coach Pochettino called the lack of qualifying games a problem for preparing the team.
- The team lost 5-2 to Belgium and 2-0 to Portugal in recent friendly matches.
- Pochettino noted these friendly games lack the same competitive spirit as qualifiers.
- He wants to change the team’s mindset to be more focused and competitive in all matches.
- Pochettino believes the USMNT can still perform well and advance far in the 2026 World Cup.
- He compared the USMNT’s chances to Morocco’s surprising success in reaching the semi-finals at the last World Cup.
- The coach said he needs to motivate his players more during practice before the tournament begins.
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