USMNT coach Pochettino confident team can win 2026 World Cup on home soil

Argentina‑born coach Mauricio Pochettino has voiced strong optimism that the United States men’s national team can capture the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co‑host. He said the squad’s talent and work ethic make anything less than a title – even a semi‑final – insufficient, and he refuses to sing the national anthem, preferring to represent the United States through sport alone.

In the team's final warm‑up friendlies before the tournament, the US beat Senegal and lost to Germany. Christian Pulisic delivered a goal and an assist against Senegal and was praised for a standout performance against Germany, while the defence showed lingering inconsistencies. Pochettino’s contract runs through the World Cup, after which media speculation links him to a possible return to European club management.