by Several players from the U.S. men’s national team have praised U.S. Soccer’s decision to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as its new head coach, especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil, when many hope the co-hosts will make a statement.
Pochettino reportedly agreed to take the job in mid-August, though the deal has not yet been finalized. He is expected to be on hand when the USMNT returns to action in September with friendlies against Canada in Kansas City and New Zealand in Cincinnati, but whether he will formally coach the team during that window has yet to be determined.
News of Pochettino’s impending appointment comes weeks after the USMNT was eliminated from the Copa America group stage, showing that the team still has work to do before it can make a strong showing at the World Cup in two years’ time. The earlier-than-expected Copa America exit led to U.S. Soccer firing then-head coach Gregg Berhalter in July, a move that had many hoping U.S. Soccer would select a high-profile successor with the World Cup in mind.
With Pochettino, US Soccer looks set to do just that. The Argentine native is one of the most respected coaches working in the sport today and has experience at the highest level. Pochettino has coached primarily in the Premier League with stints at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, but also worked at Paris Saint-Germain when Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar were in the squad. His appointment is a natural signal that the USMNT is looking to step up its game, something the players seem to be attuned to as the wait for a new coach continues.
Here’s what the U.S. national team players have had to say since news broke that Pochettino had agreed to fill the vacancy.
Antonee Robinson
USMNT defender Antonee Robinson was among the first players to comment on the potential appointment, calling the move a “fresh start” ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“He’s a really good manager, so I’m curious to see how he comes in, how he gets used to the guys, how we get used to him,” he told NBC after Fulham’s 1-0 loss to Manchester United on Aug. 16. “It’s a fresh start now. Obviously, the focus is on the World Cup and he’s got two years to get the best out of us and we have to give him everything so he can be successful with us.”
Yunus Moesah
The midfielder voiced his support for Pochettino’s arrival a few days later, suggesting that Pochettino’s experience at the highest level of football could be useful to a group of American players with similar ambitions.
“Honestly, it was nice to see a manager like Pochettino, when I saw the news, [who’s] “He’s coached a lot of top teams, agreed to coach for us,” Musah told CBS Sports Golazo Network’s Morning Footy this month. “I don’t think it’s official or anything, but if he becomes our manager, I think he can help a lot. He’s a manager who’s worked with top players, so he’s definitely got a lot of things that he trusts.”
Musah also placed some of the responsibility for the performances on the players, especially after the disappointing Copa America.
“We also have to be accountable,” he added. “At the end of the day, we have a manager that comes in, we have to follow through, you know?”
Christian Pulisic
The US national team captain is the most notable player to back Pochettino’s arrival, echoing Robinson’s statement that the team needed a change as they head towards the 2026 World Cup.
“I think it’s good news,” Pulisic told CBS ahead of AC Milan’s 2-1 loss to Parma on Aug. 24. “I think it’s time for a change. It’s time for us to take another step and really improve as a team and leading up to this World Cup we need to get some good results and build some momentum leading up to that moment.”
