Pochettino Wants US to Ditch Pressure, Play Like NFL, NBA
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino urges team to play freely at the 2026 World Cup, citing pressure of co-hosting with Mexico and Canada. Stars like Pulisic and McKennie back his approach.
“I am here because I believe that we can win...”
US coach Mauricio Pochettino wants his team to play freely ahead of the World Cup. He's urging them to ditch the pressure of co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada.
The US squad's got talent, with stars like Pulisic (AC Milan) and McKennie (Juventus). Hopes are high for a strong showing this summer.
Pochettino told his players to take a page from the NFL and NBA playbooks, saying those sports' fearless styles are what the USMNT should aim for. He mentioned binge-watching those leagues when he took the job in 2024, ahead of the World Cup kickoff this summer.
“The thing that I really enjoyed was that all the athletes that were involved in different sports, they play free - trying to perform and to entertain,” he said.
“When you are free, you perform. When you feel happy, you perform. You don't need to feel the pressure,” said Pochettino.
Pochettino's got a different vibe this time around, drawing on his tough experience as a player in the 2002 World Cup. Back then, Argentina were favorites in Japan and South Korea but got knocked out in the group stage.
He's urging the US team to learn from that kind of pressure and play freely instead.
“Pressure is a thing that, if you don't deal perfectly with this, can be heavy,” said Pochettino.
“Argentine people felt the pressure... It was really an energy that was so heavy, and we didn't deal with that.”
Striding towards Saturday. https://t.co/Jc29R3ffKu pic.twitter.com/BvrckUcYqY
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 27, 2026
Favorable Draw for USMNT
The US is guaranteed to play all games on home soil at the World Cup, which begins on June 11.
Pochettino's men have been handed a relatively favorable group featuring Paraguay, Australia and either Turkey or Kosovo.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino announced that central defenders Chris Richards and Miles Robinson won't be playing in the upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Portugal due to injuries. Richards is dealing with a knee issue, while Robinson has a groin injury and is out for both matches.
Pochettino's team will have to adjust, with Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, and Auston Trusty likely to start in central defense. Other options include Joe Scally and Tanner Tessmann, who can shift to center back. The USMNT will face Belgium on March 28 and Portugal on March 31, both at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Injuries are piling up for the USMNT, with Richards and Robinson joining Adams and Luna on the sidelines. But stars like Pulisic and McKennie are good to go, and they're buying into Pochettino's message of playing freely.
The big names are embracing the pressure, echoing their coach's vibe about handling expectations. Now it's about seeing if they can back it up against top teams like Belgium and Portugal.
“We all chose to be professional soccer players, and being competitive, having pressure, is something that you live with day in and day out,” McKennie said.
"We're all working towards a common goal." - Weston McKennie pic.twitter.com/7xA372RebW
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 27, 2026
“So I don't think we really feel a big pressure. I think we kind of invite that. We kind of like it.”
Pulisic is taking a unique approach to handling the pressure - he's deleted social media from his phone to avoid the hype. The US star says he's focused on the game, not the noise around him.
Pressure is a privilege. pic.twitter.com/IYux5rIeRf
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 27, 2026
“I'm just kind of oblivious to it,” he said.
“You guys want me to feel the pressure, that's for sure!” he joked, when repeatedly questioned by journalists.
“There's pressure - it's a World Cup. It's not because of my position in the team or anything. I'm used to this.”
Building Momentum
The USMNT's got momentum from soccer's growing popularity in North America, and they're hungry for a deep World Cup run. Their last semi-finals appearance was way back in 1930 - Pulisic and co. want to change that narrative.
Made to mind the nets. 🧤🚫 pic.twitter.com/4xqrGc8oUA
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 28, 2026
Pochettino's walking a tightrope, not wanting to come off as arrogant by saying the USMNT can win it all, but also not ruling it out. The team's grown, and they're not underdogs like before - semi-finals are on the table.
“I am here because I believe that we can win,” he said.
“And what I can tell to the people is really believe. That that happens or not happen? (There are) too many factors in the middle.”
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