Many doubted whether Emma Hayes could implement her domestic style of playing with USWNT. The end game? American ladies won gold at the Olympics within 81 days in charge of the former Chelsea boss. Naturally, it’s only logical for USMNT to now think that within two years, they can do something remarkable in the 2026 World Cup by adopting Mauricio Pochettino‘s playing style from his domestic coaching stints. However, Jamie Carragher thinks otherwise and says, “I think it’s going to be very difficult.”

It’s not like club games where Pochettino would be getting a chance to work with players each week. The Argentinian will reunite with players over weeks and months of span to instill his tactical gameplay. “I think that’s why we see most of the top managers in world football managing at a club level and, for me, Pochettino is one of those managers. That’s why it’s such a great coup for the US team,” added Carragher while speaking on The Overlap US: It’s Called Soccer.

Adding to the point of reuniting with players at irregular intervals, the Liverpool icon underlined another two key challenges for Pochettino. Firstly, given that every player would be coming from a different domestic background that too, just 3-4 days before the match, Jamie questioned the 52-year-old, “Can you get the players to play exactly how you want to play?”

Another concern of the revered pundit was the conditions that USMNT players may face alongside other contesting teams in the prestigious tournament. One may recall from his early Tottenham days that Poch liked his team to retain high energy pressing and high up the pitch. This led Carra to question the US manager, “Will he be able to implement that and will he want to because of the conditions in the 2026 World Cup?”

Playing an attacking style of playing in such scorching heat is something that the former PSG boss might be forced to ponder. “I think there are real questions about the style, sort of how Pochettino likes his teams to play, and whether that can be transformed into the national team,” concluded Carragher.

It seems like Pochettino may require some cosmetic changes in his tactics, as what he followed at Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea aren’t bound to work. On the brighter side, if he gets bored with the international, a return to domestic soccer is an option to consider after 2026!

Jamie Carragher doesn’t see Mauricio Pochettino with USMNT beyond the 2026 World Cup

Optimism would be on cloud nine to see Mauricio Pochettino begin his journey with the American boys. Even though it hasn’t begun, Jamie Carragher wants the former PL manager to make his stint short in America. “I only see him doing two years and being totally honest and sort of finishing after that World Cup and I’d expect to see him go back into the club game,” Carragher added in the segment.

One should be surprised if Carragher’s prediction holds true after the 2026 World Cup. For one, European powerhouses like Manchester United could attempt to lure the Argentine coach away at any moment. Moreover, US soccer has entrusted Pochettino with the 2026 World Cup as a make-or-break mission.

Either way, time will reveal all the cards on the table.