Pochettino and the USMNT: Does the ideal XI exist 9 months before the World Cup?

Pochettino at the Crossroads: Experimentation or Preparation for the 2026 World Cup?

Nine months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the coach of the United States men’s team, Mauricio Pochettino, continues in search of the perfect formula. After the 2-0 defeat against South Korea in a friendly, where he presented his fourteenth different starting eleven in 17 matches, the Argentine coach has made it clear that the testing phase could extend, at least, for one more international window.

This is the last camp to see players, new faces. Nobody has their place secured, and that’s my message to everyone: they must fight, because this is an open system.

Mauricio Pochettino

The coach’s message is clear. Despite setbacks in preparation, including injuries and complications with player availability, Pochettino has shown a willingness to sideline renowned starters to give opportunities to less-used players. Christian Pulisic, the team’s captain and star? Absent from summer friendlies after requesting rest. Weston McKennie, Juventus midfielder with 60 international appearances? Excluded from the squad, with Pochettino justifying the decision. These decisions have resulted in six defeats in the last 11 matches. The USMNT failed to win the Gold Cup with an experimental team and, in the Nations League, with more established names, finished in a disappointing fourth place. Faced with the defeat against South Korea, Pochettino downplayed the need for immediate victories, focusing on the final goal of 2026. “We need to start winning when the World Cup begins,” he stated. With only four international windows remaining before the start of the World Cup, the question is clear: Will Pochettino have enough time? And, most importantly, has he already defined his ideal starting eleven? The data reveals an interesting story. The players with the most minutes, after the Gold Cup, are those who participated in the summer tournament. The figures changed after the defeat against South Korea, but the only alteration in the starting eleven with the most minutes was Matt Freese surpassing Matt Turner. The notable absences are Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, Timothy Weah, Folarin Balogun, Pulisic, and McKennie. Chris Richards and Tyler Adams seem to be fixed in the ideal eleven, but, what about the rest? Injuries, club adaptations, and other uncontrollable factors are significant variables. However, the failure to take advantage of the limited available windows raises doubts.

In the podcast “Unfiltered Soccer”, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard expressed their concerns following the announcement of the September call-up. Donovan commented that he feels the experimental phase continues, suggesting that it would be better to define a group of players and work with them. Howard added that time is running out and that it is crucial to generate enthusiasm for the home World Cup. In the friendly against South Korea, the USMNT suffered its first defeat in this international window. Despite the return of Pulisic, Dest, and Weah to the starting eleven, this was the fourteenth different lineup in the Pochettino era. The Ream-Blackmon center-back pairing was the ninth different in 17 matches. Alejandro Zendejas, for his part, highlighted that Pochettino’s message about internal competition is positive. Ream also praised Pochettino’s methods, highlighting the opportunity given to players to demonstrate their worth. “It’s a good thing, competition drives you and prepares you for the coming months,” he affirmed. The results are secondary for Pochettino, but even his players recognize the need to generate momentum before the World Cup. Tyler Adams admitted that, although he understands Pochettino’s process, it’s important to get results at some point. The key question is whether Pochettino is willing to commit to a defined starting eleven as time runs out for the World Cup.