In the press conference after the defect from Mexico, Mauricio Pochettino addressed concerns following the team’s poor performance against Mexico. While expectations were high, the 2-0 defeat left fans questioning whether Pochettino was the right man to lead the team to glory ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, the Argentine coach urged patience, asking for time to implement his vision and rebuild the squad.

The pressure is indeed enormous to be in charge of a national team, especially so when the next World Cup happens right on one’s home soil. The U.S. will co-host the 2026 World Cup, and the expectation from the fans is that the team not only compete but also have a good run. After years of ups and downs, U.S. soccer fans hope to see a good performance in the World Cup. The new coach Mauricio Pochettino was supposed to change things. But after the team lost to Mexico, some people doubted he is the right choice or not.

The situation is relentless, so Mauricio Pochettino gave the appropriate response. “Give me time,” he said in the interview, making it apparent that there are no miracle solutions available at the moment. Pochettino was hopeful but realistic when questioned on whether the U.S. would overcome CONCACAF and establish itself as a force in the world by 2026.

“Only 10 days and a few training sessions. There’s a need to assess the players, to get familiar with them, and to create a strong base. After that we will have a much clearer assessment of what this side is capable of”, Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged the frustration from the fans but encouraged them to show patience, adding, “It’s too early. We have just begun the journey. Give us some time to assess and experiment, and we will see into the making of a team which will compete for serious honors.”

The path forward for the 2026 World Cup

While taking the match against Mexico, the US side failed in the defensive structure of the game. The conditions of the game were not favorable to the attacking aspect as most important players could not be seen on the ground. This is the reason behind Pochettino saying that there were no questions regarding the capacity of players but the team was not together for long. Therefore he could not work out his tactics and ideas to the fullest of his potential.

“There are certain things you cannot judge based on 10 days,” Pochettino said, continuing, “We need time to get to know the players, build relationships, and establish a style of play that everyone understands.” Mauricio Pochettino was hopeful that the U.S. could be up there among the best soccer teams going forward. He did not want to just qualify for the World Cup in 2026 but compete against the world’s élite in the near future. However, this takes longer than just a few months of training and practice.

“We have the potential. We have young, talented players, and with time, we can shape them into a team that not only competes in CONCACAF but also on the global stage”, Pochettino said. As the U.S. builds itself up for 2026’s World Cup, it is imperative for fans here to pay attention to Mauricio Pochettino’s words of encouragement: be patient. Much investment goes into building a national team from scratch. Losing to Mexico was a little disappointing but that little setback is just a very small part of a much larger process.