Mauricio Pochettino Aiming High as USA Gears for 2026 FIFA World Cup Push
The former PSG, Chelsea and Tottenham boss, who has signed on for an initial two-year deal that takes him up to the finals of the World Cup, is hugely experienced at the highest level of the game, but he may well have to adopt a more realistic approach than his recent press conferences have suggested.
Fans of soccer in the United States, who are no doubt buoyed by this appointment, may wish to place a wager on the team making a real impact in the World Cup, in which case the analysis here on soccer betting sites in the USA may prove very helpful indeed.
51-year-old Pochettino has managed across La Liga, the Premier League and Ligue 1, leading Tottenham to the UEFA Champions League Final and winning a host of honours at PSG during his 18-month spell in charge at the Parc des Princes.
He lasted just one season at Chelsea before leaving Stamford Bridge in May, and he certainly has the know-how to get as much out of his American team as possible; the question is, will that be enough?
Having taken the post, Pochettino has looked to how the US Women’s Team have fared as a sign of what his men’s team might achieve, stating,
“One of the most important things that we can be inspired by is the women’s team,”
“We have Emma (Hayes) that, for me, is the best coach in the world … and the women’s team in history has won everything. For me, it’s so close to us.”
“I think that is going to be our inspiration,”
“That is the objective to match.”
While it’s true the United States Women’s Team have done very well, winning four World Cups (the last of which came in 2019), there’s a big difference between the quality of that squad versus what Pochettino has to call upon.
“I believe that the evolution of football here in the U.S. is obvious, no? We had the opportunity over the years with different teams – Tottenham, Chelsea – to come and play in summer tournaments, and we saw and felt how the fan base is growing, how clubs are developing and evolving,”
“So it’s exciting to see how quickly this evolution is happening, no?”
“I believe with the additional help from people like the Federation, like MLS, I believe that is all important contributions to the development of soccer here in the U.S. It’s happening very quickly. The arrival of important players in the league also helps that development.” Pochettino added.
These, too, are points previous USA managers have made, and while there is no denying that the MLS has progressed very well, especially in recent years, that is down in no small manner to the quality of incoming talents to the league, which does not necessarily lead to a marked improvement on the homegrown talent.
The United States reached the Quarter-Finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and that is a benchmark that could potentially be within reach, but anything higher would be something of a miracle.