Mauricio Pochettino is navigating his first job as a national team manager, but his tenure with the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) has yet to deliver the results fans hoped for when he took the reins. With the 2025 Gold Cup on the horizon, Pochettino delivered a strong message to captain Christian Pulisic and the rest of the squad about the player’s selection for the competition.
Despite high expectations, the USMNT stumbled in the recent CONCACAF Nations League Finals, finishing in fourth place following a disappointing 1-0 loss to Panama and a 2-1 defeat to Canada. Speaking with the USMNT’s official website, Pochettino emphasized the need to instill a winning mentality throughout the squad.
“The right mindset must be there, because we need to compete for our flag, our country. What we are trying to do as a staff is to optimize every single area of preparation, and the mentality of the players is really important,” the Argentine boss stated.
Beyond mentality, Pochettino made it clear that his coaching staff is focusing on building a well-rounded group—not just a talented one. “We need to be intelligent in the way that we are going to select the players and not just choose based on talent alone. We need to have the right characters to be really competitive.”
With USMNT regulars currently playing in Europe and Pulisic wearing the captain’s armband, the challenge ahead is not just about talent, but cohesion and mindset. Pochettino is determined to avoid repeating past mistakes as the team prepares for the region’s biggest tournament.
Gold Cup focus: Winning and building toward the World Cup
Drawn into Group D alongside Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, and Saudi Arabia, the USMNT enters the 2025 Gold Cup as group favorites, but Pochettino isn’t taking anything for granted. When asked about his reaction for the group, the coach made an honest claim:
“I think it’s going to be a difficult group, and it’s important that we respect all of our opponents in the competition,” he stated. “The Gold Cup is historically always a difficult competition, and we are excited to be involved and of course we want to win. It’s a good opportunity for us to test different players and see their character and continue to build and prepare the team for the World Cup,” the coach added.
The USMNT opens group play on June 15 against Trinidad & Tobago. With eyes already on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Pochettino has made one thing clear: his goal this summer is to lift the Gold Cup on July 6.