Pochettino: USMNT dreams of winning the 2026 World Cup, no excuses!

Pochettino aims high: United States dreams of winning the 2026 World Cup

The United States national team coach, Mauricio Pochettino, keeps his sights set on winning the 2026 World Cup. The Argentinian coach insists that his players must “think big” to achieve glory in the tournament to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Although the USMNT hasn’t reached the World Cup quarter-finals since the 2002 edition, their best result in the modern era, Pochettino firmly believes that the team should aim to win the tournament at home.

For me, it’s about winning. I think if you don’t win, what does it matter? If you come second, nobody remembers it.

Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino cited the example of Morocco, which surprised many with its epic arrival in the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The coach emphasized the importance of a winning mentality, highlighting that the Moroccan team demonstrated the determination to go for the victory. The coach also emphasized the importance of establishing football as a constant in the country. He believes that having a good World Cup is key to achieving this.

Since taking over after the USMNT’s disappointing participation in last year’s Copa América, Pochettino has consistently spoken about the importance of a strong mentality and culture within the national team, continuously working to improve both on and off the field. The coach recalled a turning point when losing the 2025 Gold Cup against Mexico. Since then, the team has found a way to compete and raise its standards. The USMNT has achieved a record of 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Pochettino led the team to a surprising 5-1 victory over Uruguay. Pochettino also addressed the criticism received during his tenure with the USMNT, defending his approach and highlighting the difficulty of being a coach. The coach also mentioned the upcoming matches against Portugal and Belgium in March, which will be the last before naming the squad for the World Cup.