In the world of soccer, collaboration and respect among coaches can often become a driving force behind decisions that affect a team’s future. This became very relevant in the case of Emma Hayes, who has been and continues to be one of the highly-rated women’s soccer managers but also contributed to the changing coaching dynamics of the USMNT. The Director of the US Soccer Federation talked about Emma Hayes. She was interested in Mauricio Pochettino. The way she appreciated him helped their search for a USMNT coach.

In the interview, the director shared their discussion before getting Pochettino on board. They focused on her relationship with Pochettino. This helped them understand how different coaches can support each other in soccer.

The director recalled: “Emma was constantly in the Olympics; where are we with Poch? We had conversations with Mauricio and other coaches, and when I mentioned Mauricio, she would lean in, and I could sense that they respected each other. They’d worked together at Chelsea; they both hold each other in real high regard.”

The relationship between Emma Hayes and Pochettino comes from their time at Chelsea. Both coaches worked there in different roles. The USSF Director said they have mutual respect. This shows they understand each other’s ways, beliefs, and drive for quality. Hayes’ link with Pochettino made the USSF think about how this could improve the team.

“Just started to build this mental picture in my head of, oh, can you imagine in our senior teams, you know, Mauricio and Emma, and the dynamic between those two would be electric. How they would bounce ideas off each other, share great practice, and challenge each other,” the director explained. It wasn’t about hiring just one standout coach; it was about understanding how different soccer minds could collaborate and push each other toward success. In this case, Emma Hayes’ influence added weight to the idea of hiring a coach like Pochettino for the USMNT.

Emma Hayes’ impact and Pochettino’s debut victory

It is not normal for a women’s coach to impact decisions on the men’s side. But Emma Hayes is not a typical coach. She has been very successful with the Chelsea Women’s team. Hayes has won several league titles and done well in European competitions. This shows she understands the sport at all levels. Her interest in Pochettino shows she knows the men’s game well. Even though coaches are either men or women, they often think alike and share insights. Traditional boundaries do not limit them.

Mauricio Pochettino’s first game in charge of the USMNT ended in a 2-0 victory over Panama, an immediate shot in the arm after a rough summer. It was far from perfect, but it meant something for a team that had struggled lately, missing out on the knockout stages of the Copa América and dropping some games under then-head coach Gregg Berhalter.

Pochettino’s approach already shows signs of change, with a more calculated style of play than Berhalter’s reliance on pace and chaos in attack. While Panama created some chances, the U.S. held on for a clean sheet, partly thanks to goalkeeper Matt Turner. Pochettino’s leadership gives the team hope as they prepare for tougher challenges. As the 2026 World Cup is coming soon, Pochettino’s intense style is tested in the upcoming friendly against Mexico.