Mauricio Pochettino has never been short of ambition. The man who turned Tottenham into genuine Champions League contenders and nearly won the thing is now on arguably his most interesting project yet, trying to turn the United States into a team that the football world actually fears come 2026.
In a recent interview, Pochettino pushed back on the idea that nobody sees the USA as a real threat at the World Cup. His point was simple and fair enough really. Why not them? They are the hosts, they have some serious young talent coming through, and the game is growing at a rate over there that would have seemed impossible fifteen years ago. Pochettino also had an interesting word for the expectations building around the team, calling some of the home nation enthusiasm a little arrogant, which takes some nerve but also shows he is trying to manage the pressure smartly.
The honest answer is that the USA probably are not going to win the World Cup. Let's not get carried away. The gap between them and the Brazils, Frances and Englands of this world is still real and it does not disappear just because you are playing on home soil. Ask England, they know all about tournament heartbreak on home turf. Actually, best not remind this writer about that.
But Pochettino's broader point stands up. The USA reaching the latter stages of a home World Cup is absolutely not a fantasy. Christian Pulisic is a proper player, the squad has genuine depth in certain areas, and home advantage in tournament football is a real thing. Crowds, atmosphere, and familiarity with conditions all matter more than people give credit for.
What Pochettino is doing is threading a needle between keeping expectations realistic and still believing loudly enough to build genuine belief in the dressing room. That is good management. Whether it translates to results on the pitch is another question entirely, but this is a project worth watching.
Let me know your thoughts.