Late last Friday, Mauricio Pochettino gathered some of his staff in an office at the USA’s team hotel near Laguna Beach – around 50 miles south of Los Angeles.
After 32 years of waiting and eight years of planning, the USMNT had just kicked off another home World Cup with a sensational 4-1 win over Paraguay. So Pochettino celebrated by firing up his speakers and blasting out Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the USA.’
It was, perhaps, an obvious song choice. Even if it is not Pochettino’s usual taste. The 54-year-old is a huge fan of Robbie Williams and singer-songwriter Teddy Swims. Since taking over the US, he has developed a love of country music, too. His usual go-to? Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas.’
For now, however, Pochettino will hope to avoid the Lone Star State. The USA face a possible trip to Dallas in the round of 32 should they fail to win Group D. Victory over Australia here on Friday would go a long way to keeping his team on the West Coast, where Pochettino has set up camp for the defining few weeks of his American revolution.
That win over Paraguay was a stunning illustration of why the US broke the bank to hire the ex-Tottenham and Chelsea coach. It was also the result of nearly two years’ work behind the scenes to change the culture of this team.
Since taking the job, Pochettino has strived to transform the USMNT from a ‘holiday camp’ into a setup that will allow his players to shock the world and change the sport in this country. There have been tears and tiffs; it has been a slow burn. But change has come thanks to Chick-fil-A, college football, darts and Pochettino’s own Dick Cheney.
Mauricio Pochettino has attempted to change the culture and fortunes of the USMNT
The United States kicked off its home World Cup campaign with a 4-1 win over Paraguay
Pochettino celebrated the win by blasting out Bruce Springsteen’s hit ‘Born in the USA’
This is not Pochettino’s first rodeo. He was part of Argentina’s squad at the 2002 World Cup, when they crashed out in the group stages. And that summer left its mark. In Japan and South Korea, Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa gave his players little time to wind down. Pochettino always vowed to do it differently.
After an exhaustive search, the USMNT decided to train at the Great Park Sport Complex, in the shadow of the Santa Ana Mountains. They are staying half an hour south along the California coast.
At the team hotel, players can relax on the beach but also in lounges that double as a boys’ playground. As well as a giant screen, there is table football, darts, table tennis and video games. Sergino Dest is the reigning FIFA champion, apparently.
Four years ago in Qatar, former coach Gregg Berhalter brought in architects to design a similar setup. It proved a hit, so Pochettino has stuck with the same formula. Following victory over Paraguay, meanwhile, there was a team barbeque before players were given the day off on Sunday. ‘[That] is rare,’ midfielder Tyler Adams said. ‘It’s important to disconnect.’
Family and friends are staying in a nearby hotel that comes with full concierge service, allowing players to focus on the task at hand. Earlier this week, some WAGs, parents and kids came to watch training.
For those who have spent years around the USMNT, this was unheard of; the dad of one senior player revealed it was the first time he had seen one of his son’s sessions since he turned professional.
That father should know it is not always such a fun watch. By the time Pochettino’s team returned to their training base on Monday, however, the mood had shifted. A weight had been lifted; optimism and energy coursed around this place. People who have been around several USMNT camps insist they have never seen anything like this.
Before Monday’s session, Pochettino greeted every journalist with a handshake or fist bump. He then gathered all his players and staff members in a huddle and addressed them as one.
Pochettino, who has developed a love of country music, enjoys Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’
Ahead of a training session in Irvine, California, the manager addresses his players and staff
Some of Pochettino’s lieutenants have been with him for years, such as assistant Jesus Perez – his trusted right-hand man who plays such a crucial role that he was playfully described this week as the ‘Dick Cheney to [Pochettino’s] George Bush.’ Others staffers are new to Pochettino. But he has insisted they all wear the same team kit. One kitman even regularly takes part in team rondos.
Several people – including Christian Pulisic – have credited the head coach for creating a ‘family’ and Adams added this week: ‘There’s certainly been an increase in level of respect within and around the team… how much we value the presence of one another and the presence of every single staff member that plays a role.’
It is all part of Pochettino’s cultural revolution.
Since taking over in September 2024, in the aftermath of a disastrous Copa America campaign, the 54-year-old has been encouraging this team to dream big: to believe America can win the World Cup.
That is why he pushed to change the motto of this USMNT from ‘One Nation, One Team’ to ‘Never Chase Reality.’ Pochettino doesn’t want to be bound by expectation.
He wept after watching ‘Miracle’ – the movie about the 1980 Winter Olympics, when a US hockey team made up of college kids beat the all-conquering Soviet Union before winning gold. That film includes a mantra from coach Herb Brooks that stuck with Pochettino: pick the ‘right’ players’ rather than the ‘best’ players. He repeated those words after announcing his World Cup squad.
Another catchphrase that resonated with Pochettino came from the chairman of fast-food chain Chick-fil-A: ‘Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast.’ He met Dan Cathy for breakfast earlier this year and, since then, Pochettino has adopted the philosophy. Tactics matter, of course, but only if the foundations are sound.
Perhaps the most crucial tenet of his rebuild has been removing the comfort blanket. According to a source close to Pochettino, the coach felt too many players treated international breaks like a ‘holiday camp.’ So he ‘laid down the law.’ No longer was anyone guaranteed a place. Not even Pulisic. Last summer, the winger was one of several big names to miss the Gold Cup. Pulisic skipped it due to fatigue but asked to play in two pre-tournament friendlies. Pochettino said no.
Last summer, winger Christian Pulisic was one of several big names to miss the Gold Cup
Pochettino met Chick-fil-A boss Dan Cathy who taught him the catchphrase: ‘Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast’
Instead, the Argentine has used the last two years to bring in fresh blood. ‘To make sure that no one’s getting comfortable,’ Adams said. He has experimented with more than 70 players and exploded when a journalist once referred to his ‘regulars.’
In the build-up to this World Cup, Pochettino has sought to light that same fire in his team. ‘We have that bit of edge that we didn’t have before,’ Tim Weah said this week. Sebastian Berhalter put it even more bluntly. ‘We’re American, we don’t take s*** – that’s something that he really [brought] in,’ Berhalter said. ‘Even though he’s Argentinian, he has that mindset.’
That became clear at halftime of the USA’s last meeting with Australia, when Pochettino blasted his players for a lack of fight. His passion was also laid bare after the US lost to Mexico in last year’s Gold Cup final. Pochettino broke down and said: ‘Football is everything for me.’
Weah felt Pochettino’s ire earlier this year, after complaining about World Cup ticket prices. Yes, Pochettino spoke to President Trump on the eve of the Paraguay game but it’s understood he has been determined to stop his players being dragged into politics or distracted by the off-field chaos around this World Cup.
Pochettino has leant on his softer side, too. He recently allowed Brenden Aaronson to leave camp to get married and, after Alex Freeman was called up, the defender was ‘scared to talk’ to his manager. Pochettino settled him down with a 40-minute chat. Investing that time matters on the training pitch, too
During the Gold Cup and the build-up to this World Cup, the Argentine has finally had a prolonged period to work with his players. Pochettino joked on Thursday: ‘We feel like coaches now!’ But the verdict across the camp is that all those extra sessions have been crucial in allowing him to instill his culture and embed is philosophy.
Players have said the current setup feels more like a club and, against Paraguay, the US played with a clarity and fluidity that is rare among international teams.
He recently allowed Brenden Aaronson to leave camp to get married before the World Cup
Pochettino took a call from President Trump on the eve of the USA’s win over Paraguay
It hasn’t all been rosy, of course. Pulisic is a serious doubt for Friday’s game with Australia and it would be a serious test of progress under Pochettino if the US is forced to cope without its talisman.
The coach also came under fire recently after it emerged that he had held talks with AC Milan and that World Cup rejects learned their fate by email. Many accused him of being a gun-for-hire who was only here for a decent payday until another, more glamorous job comes along.
Pochettino’s contract expires after the World Cup and it may be hard for US Soccer to keep him, whatever happens. His deal – reportedly worth around $6million a year – was funded ‘in significant part’ by donations from billionaires and corporations.
But even if Pochettino leaves, recent evidence suggests he has laid building blocks that could propel the USMNT to new heights. Last year, he was a guest at Ohio State vs Texas – a meeting of two college football powerhouses. It’s said Pochettino was blown away and wondered aloud how soccer here could replicate such electricity.
Well, more performances like Paraguay will help. That was the most-watched soccer game on record in America. Here on Friday, Pochettino’s revolution could take another great leap forward.
