From the outside, playing the Gold Cup with a depleted roster could seem wasteful, but the USMNT coach sees upside
SAN JOSE, Calif. – It's been nine months to the day since Mauricio Pochettino's introductory news conference. On that day, he didn't go too deep into specifics. There were no positional or tactical breakdowns. There were few names mentioned. The focus, by and large, was on the big picture and, more specifically, on one critical word: culture.
Pochettino said that word five times over the course of one single answer. He said the U.S. men's national team's culture would be one of winning, and competing, and that culture would permeate through every camp, be it a friendly or a tournament or the 2026 World Cup itself.
"I think the most important thing is to create something special," he said back in September, "to feel something when you arrive to the national team. It's not that the players come and not just, because you get called in, we are going to play. No, we are going to compete and 'to compete' is completely different than 'to play.' "
All these months later, the message has, largely, stayed the same. Unfortunately for Pochettino and U.S. Soccer, the mood around the team has changed. The USMNT limp into this summer's Gold Cup shorthanded and, more importantly, on something of a low. They've lost four straight matches – all at home, the first time that's happened since 1988 – and, to put it into Pochettino's own words, have done a lot more "playing" than "competing" in recent months.
It's at least partially due to circumstances. Recent friendly defeats against Turkey and Switzerland came amid a flood of player absences, with Christian Pulisic's controversial decision to rest this summer the most notable. As the dominoes continued to fall on that front, Pochettino's summer plans pivoted, turning this Gold Cup run into a trial by fire for many of those on the fringes. This summer could have been a trophy run to build momentum one year out from the World Cup. Instead, it's turned into something with far more risk.
While many of the stars sit on the sidelines – some due to injury and recovery, others due to Club World Cup commitments – Pochettino's aim for this summer has shifted. The hope is that this younger, hungrier group steps in, shows some fight and reminds those watching from home of what it means to play for the national team. The idea is that they set a tone that carries on through. The plan is that they make some regulars more uncomfortable, and that sets a competitive edge heading into the home stretch of this World Cup cycle.
But, in order for Pochettino's plan to work, those players need to succeed. The Gold Cup kicks off for the USMNT against Trinidad and Tobago Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in San Jose, and and this point, that success is far from guaranteed.
The inexperience cannot be understated. Over the two pre-Gold Cup friendlies, 20 different players got starts, with 12 of those 24 and younger. Moreover, 11 starters over the two matches had five or fewer caps coming into camp, and six got their first – Sebastian Berhalter, Matt Freese, Alex Freeman, Nathan Harriel, Quinn Sullivan and Damion Downs.
Is this USMNT group good enough to really challenge the established group? What culture shift can this summer generate? And realistically, can this team compete for a Gold Cup? We'll find out those answers over the next few weeks – those answers are more crucial than many realize.
Getty ImagesA rough year
Pochettino hasn't directly said it himself, but he hasn't had to. The results have spoken for themselves.
Heading into the Gold Cup, the USMNT has now lost four consecutive matches. That losing streak was preceded by the Copa America disaster in 2024 that ultimately got Pochettino this gig in the first place. Over the last year, something has been very, very wrong with the USMNT, and Pochettino is the man tasked with fixing it.
Pochettino's record since taking over the team last year is a pedestrian 5-5, and he is the first USMNT coach to lose five of his first 10 since Lothar Osiander from 1986-88. Thus far, his tenure has produced more questions than answers. It's also resulted in something of a step back off the field.
Ahead of this summer's slate, Pochettino fired what appeared to be a veiled shot at those in the squad feeling most comfortable.
"If you arrive at the camp and you want to have a nice time, play golf, go for a dinner, visit my family, visit my friend, that is the culture that we want to create?" Pochettino said. "No, no, no, no, no; what we want to do is to go to the national team, arrive and be focused and spend all my focus and energy in the national team. If we want to be good in one year's time, we need to think that today is the most important day."
It quickly became clear, though, that was not the case for many within the USMNT, as the absences piled up ahead of the Gold Cup.
AdvertisementImagnDominoes tumble
Pochettino and the USMNT always knew that this team would be shorthanded. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna would be unavailable due to Club World Cup commitments. Ricardo Pepi, meanwhile, remains out with a long-term injury. The U.S. were generally prepared for those absences.
And then came Pulisic. It's the decision that sent shockwaves through American soccer, and one that is still generating controversy several weeks later. The other dominoes then fell. Yunus Musah, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergino Dest all dropped off of the roster, for one reason or another, leaving the U.S. without multiple starting regulars.
The debate around Pulisic's decision has been pervasive of late. On Saturday, Pochettino responded to Pulisic’s recent comments, in which the U.S. star claimed that he had offered to join the national team for a pair of friendlies before opting to sit out the Gold Cup. Pulisic said the USMNT coaching staff declined the offer, saying, "It's the coach's decision, I fully respect that. I didn't understand it, but it is what it is."
Pochettino, one day before the Gold Cup opener, said that it was a very clear call.
“With Christian, he explained that he wanted to be involved in the two games and, knowing that, I respect and understand him,” Pochettino said. “I understand him, but I don’t need him to understand our decisions. My position is that I am 53, with a lot of experience in football, and I was a player before I was a coach. If you want to understand this, it’s really obvious."
Pochettino insisted it should be up to the national team staff to analyze players' fitness.
"Players don't need to understand or not understand that," Pochettino said. "Players need to listen and stick with our plan. They cannot dictate the plan because, if so, then we'd invert positions, no? It is obvious, and the most important thing is that we explain. We explained why we decided not to include him [Pulisic] in the two friendlies. And then if you have some problems, it's not a problem if you understand or don't understand."
Beyond Pulisic, the coach opted to leave several other familiar faces at home. Joe Scally, Tanner Tessmann and Josh Sargent were among those left out in favor of younger, less-proven options.
"Football decisions", Pochettino said, as he wanted to get a closer look at a different sort of group.
"Our responsibility is to analyze and assess the players in the same way," he said. "We cannot assess a player because [he is] playing in one team, playing in Europe or playing the MLS, in one team or another, no? I think all the players that are for the first time with us, I think all deserve to be there, deserve to have the chance."
The idea was to plant the seed, evaluate some players who could contribute when the regular starting group – barring injury – gathers again this fall ahead of next June's World Cup.
"We created the best roster that we think can deliver what we want," he said. "I think it’s important to [call up] people who can challenge, in one year's time, some names that everyone considers that need to be [at the World Cup] because they are good players and they are performing well today."
Those selections, though, came with a hidden message: the competition was on.
Getty ImagesPochettino's big bet
Throughout his topsy-turvy tenure, Pochettino has found some players who exemplify what he wants from a USMNT player. Diego Luna is perhaps the best example. Since his breakthrough in January, Luna has brought a definitive attitude and competitiveness to the field and that, combined with his actual ability, has made him a potential starter for this team.
The hope for this Gold Cup, then, was to find more Diego Lunas, more players that were hungry, more players that didn't have the comfort of caps on their resume. Pochettino's big bet was simple: if he could get this young group through this summer while many of his regulars watched on, the bar would be raised for those regulars when they do return.
"This is the attitude that I want to continue to have for the future until we arrive to the World Cup because that is the only way we can improve," he said after the loss to Turkey. "If I decide in September to bring in a different roster, what I want is the same level of commitment, attitude, no complaints, no excuses."
The Turkey game showed signs of that progress. After the match, Pochettino joked about how thankful he was to have most of the questions be about soccer, not attitude or effort. Facing a talented Turkey team, several young stars stepped up to the occasion, narrowly losing a 2-1 soccer game, not a mental battle. The performance was largely good, one defined by two bad moments and a good amount of fight from a group of players that knew what kind of opportunity was in front of them.
Then came the Switzerland game on Tuesday, the one that recalibrated with this summer can look like. The Swiss thoroughly destroyed a rotated USMNT group, one that dipped even deeper into the player pool than the Turkey match. Pochettino's XI that day averaged just 18 caps, buoyed by the presence of a few regulars. In total, five players entered that game with five or fewer international appearances.
With stars Tyler Adams and Chris Richards left out, the USMNT were battered, 4-0, in a game that showed that this squad is nowhere near that level. Young fullbacks were routinely beaten. An unfamiliar midfield never knew when to press. The U.S, as a whole, continued to struggle in the attack, having scored just two goals over the last four games.
The coach immediately stepped into the firing line to take the blame. His decision to change the team had backfired, exposing many of the flaws scattered throughout an inexperienced roster.
"I wanted to give the possibility to others on the roster to play," Pochettino said after the loss. "That is the reason we took, but it's something that went in the wrong direction in the beginning. I think that was my first thought: to blame ourselves because it was our decision. I think the combination of the starting level of the team, I think wasn't at the pace, but this is about learning and then saying 'Move on'."
Turkey and Switzerland aren't competing in the Gold Cup – this summer will bring a different tier of opponent, at least at the start. With the friendlies behind this team, the question begs: can they actually win?
Getty ImagesGold Cup expectations
With Gold Cup starting, the USMNT are reeling. These four consecutive losses have taken a toll, at least in the public sphere and the narrative around this team. The U.S. were was actually booed multiple times during the Switzerland defeat in Nashville, showcasing expectations, and the pressure this team is under to win – and win now.
But can this team win now? And is that even the objective, with the World Cup the actual target? Given the obvious deficiencies and lack of experience in the squad, is this a group that can seriously compete moving forward?
Pochettino believes so. That's why he called in the group he did. In some ways, Pochettino was willing to trade quality for a whole lot of motivated players, hoping the hunger would be enough to guide the USMNT through the summer. More importantly, though, he hoped that desire would give him a few more players he can rely on once summer has ended and the real march towards the World Cup begins.
Expectations are tempered. Mexico and Canada have brought strong squads. Jamaica, too, have plenty of talent. Panama have become the USMNT's arch nemesis – beating them both in Copa American and Nations League – while Saudi Arabia, one of the USMNT's group opponents, beat champions Argentina at the World Cup less than three years ago.
This summer, the U.S. aren't among the favorites. They're in that tier just behind.
So what constitutes success? If a trophy seems unlikely, what can the USMNT achieve this summer? Momentum, Pochettino will hope. Fire, too. A few more faces to add to the player pool when fall friendlies – ideally, including most of the regular roster – roll around would be nice.
More than anything, though, Pochettino will want to reset that culture. He established that target nine months ago when he said that every game mattered. And now, with the USMNT reeling and an inexperienced group now tasked with mitigating the damage, winning might just mean more than ever.