Mauricio Pochettino faces his biggest challenge yet as USMNT head coach: leading the team to victory in the CONCACAF Nations League Finals. Six months into his tenure, the tournament represents a crucial test, with a semifinal match against Panama on Thursday kicking off their bid for a fourth consecutive Nations League title. This tournament holds significant importance as a key step in the team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Pochettino has acknowledged the pressure associated with the tournament, but emphasized that his team is accustomed to performing under pressure. He stated on Tuesday: “We are going to feel the pressure as we felt the pressure in the previous games in the field of Miami and Orlando playing friendly games against Venezuela and against Costa Rica.”
He has prioritized the long-term goals over immediate results, framing the Nations League as a valuable evaluation opportunity ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Tactical approach and balancing short-term and long-term goals
Pochettino aims to strike a balance between winning the Nations League and developing the team for the World Cup. While victory is the ultimate goal, he also seeks to identify and build a strong core squad.
He explained: “That is about winning, yes. If you ask me I want to win, of course, I want to win the [Nations League] because that is going to help us to build our confidence and trust in the way that we are doing the scene. But at the same time, we need to be intelligent, to try to discover the best player and to build a strong core of team with the possibility to fight for big things.”
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Panama poses a significant threat, having defeated the USMNT in their last two competitive encounters. Should the USMNT overcome Panama, they will face either Mexico or Canada in the final.
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Pochettino acknowledged the importance of the upcoming match and the team’s strong record in past Nations League finals, stating: “We want to win, it’s not an excuse, but I think important for us the objective is the World Cup, and I think we are translating the idea that we need to compete in our best way and win the tournament because I think it’s important for the future, for the future in one year, to be ready to compete for a big trophy.”
