The Pochettino era begins in Panama vs. US Soccer and eyes are getting closer to the 2026 World Cup | football news

Pochettino advised patience. The coach, his staff and players spent this week not only training, but also making introductions.

Success will be measured by how well staff and players know each other, are organized and send a clear message about expectations from staff to players.

Of course, football is about competition and victory. Our fans definitely want to win,” Pochettino said on Friday. “At the same time, their entire organization, our first contact with the players, must understand that we cannot push too much. …We have to give the team time to adapt to us.

Panama beat the United States in the Copa America in July after receiving a red card in the 18th minute for punching an opponent. The United States has won only once in Mexico, in a friendly at Estadio Azteca in 2012.

Weah is one of several injured regulars who will miss these matches, including Sergio Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun, as well as sporadic starters Johnny Cardoso and Chris Richards.

The United States automatically qualifies for the 2026 World Cup, with Mexico and Canada as co-hosts. Pochettino is tasked with leading the United States into a tournament where they have not reached the quarterfinals since 2002 and the semifinals since 1930.

The 52-year-old Argentine coached Spain's Espanyol (2009-12), Southampton (2013-14), Tottenham (2014-19) and Chelsea (2023-24) in England, and Paris Saint-Germain (2021) in France. -22), leaving the team after winning the league title with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

However, this will be the first time he will lead the national team. He is the first foreign-born coach of Team USA since Jurgen Klinsmann from 2011-2016.

The challenge for us is to build a team, Pochettino said.

Pochettino's top list includes Christian Pulisic, who scored five goals in seven Serie A games for AC Milan this season and became the first American to score in four consecutive games in Europe's top five leagues since Roy Wegerle of Queens Park Rangers in September 1990.

Pochettino called Pulisic one of the best attacking players in the world in his current form.

Good to hear. I still have a long way to go to reach the top, the very top. I think I'm on the right track, Pulisic said.

But he also played a lot and Pochettino said Pulisic arrived at training camp tired.

Goalkeeper Jack Steffen, who was surprisingly left out of Berhalter's 2022 World Cup squad, returns after resuming his career in Colorado following a disappointing spell at Manchester City.

Pulisic and other players used the word intense to describe their first training camp with Pochettino.

Every trainer has a different style. The training was definitely intense… which was good. “I think we have to think carefully about how we want to play,” Pulisic said.

What are the expectations after the next two matches?

I don't like having expectations. Of course we want to go out on the pitch and get good results. We want to win both games, Pulisic said. But the most important thing is to get to know each other and feel comfortable as employees and players, and feel confident before bigger events.

The oldest player on the squad, 37-year-old defenseman Tim Ream, said the players were ready to savor it this week.

The message is that he wants to win, right? (Pochettino) has his principles and ideas, but in the end it's about winning, Reim said. And you know, it's important to have that attitude. It's important to continue that mindset and lead in these games and beyond.