Mauricio Pochettino wins in first game with USMNT

AUSTIN, Texas – It just seems different when Mauricio Pochettino tells the U.S. men’s national team that he has confidence in them.

Pochettino has won titles. Led Tottenham to the Champions League final. Coached a team with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé And Neymar. If Pochettino tells the players he believes in them and gives them the green light to play with freedom, how could you not go a little bigger and play with more authority?

A 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday night in Pochettino’s first game with the USMNT doesn’t solve all of the team’s problems. But it was clear that the Americans had shed the malaise that had plagued them for months, and that is just as important as ending their four-game winning streak.

“It was huge. He’s been talking about confidence all week,” said Tim Ream, who was picked by Pochettino to captain the USMNT for his first game as coach. “He wants us to be solid defensively and then for the guys to play the way they feel comfortable.”

“When he tells the boys to be themselves, it’s a sign that he has faith in you. And you see that with all the guys out there,” Ream added. “Knowing the caliber of manager that he is, the caliber of players he has managed before, he can give the boys the freedom to be themselves, play with intensity but do so in the right areas going forward to do. This gives the boys the opportunity to express themselves more and more and have the confidence to do so.”

The victory was only the fourth for the USMNT this year. It was also the Americans’ first multi-goal game since June 23. Yunus Musah scored his first goal for the USMNT in the 49th minute, and Ricardo Pepi scored a game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time.

“This was a first step to grow and get better,” said Pochettino.

The USMNT now travels to Mexico, where they will play arch-rivals El Tri in a friendly on Tuesday night in Guadalajara. Pochettino’s first competitive game will take place next month, but the opponent (and venue) for the Nations League quarter-finals has yet to be determined.

After a miserable performance in this summer’s Copa America, including only its third-ever loss to Panama, US Soccer fired Gregg Berhalter and took on Pochettino. It was a bold – and expensive – move to bring in one of the most successful managers in European club football for his first national team job, but the federation had no choice. The United States is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, and US Soccer hopes it will provide a similar boost to the sport here as the tournament did in 1994.

Although football has a much higher profile today than it did 30 years ago, it lags behind the NFL and NBA and the talent pool is still not as deep as it should be in a country of this size. A deep rush in 2026 could change that — but not with the direction the USMNT is headed.

Pochettino has repeatedly said that this first camp was about getting to know the players and, just as importantly, the players getting to know him and his staff. He wants the players to know that he has their back. When asked why he left regular player Weston McKennie on the bench, Pochettino replied that it was because the midfielder had come into camp a bit ailing and he didn’t want to risk McKennie causing more problems.

Pochettino also moved Musah, who is struggling for playing time at AC Milan, out. It’s a position where Musah has thrived in the past, actually scoring his first goal in more than two years, whether club or country.

Ream sent a looping ball down the field to Antonee Robinson, who controlled it on the sideline before passing it on to Christian Pulisic. Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson then went back and forth before Pulisic fed the onrushing Musah, his teammate in Milan.

“I’ve been in the situation of not playing before,” Pulisic said. “It’s a great opportunity to come here, show yourself and do well.”

Matt Turner did that too.

The veteran goalkeeper, who currently plays for Crystal Palace, has struggled to achieve consistent playing time since moving to England in 2022. But Pochettino gave him the go-ahead on Saturday and he defended the lead with quick saves on two shots from close range in the 52nd minute. He knocked away the first shot, but it fell to another Panamanian player and Turner made a save to block the second shot.

“From my point of view, an amazing achievement. Of course I’m not a specialist (but) I think he was fantastic,” Pochettino said. “I am so happy for him because he is suffering at his own club. This is an opportunity to show that he can fight for a place at his club.”

Pochettino made some tactical changes, with the USMNT playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He gave young players like Aidan Morris and Gianluca Busio the chance to prove themselves. But it was the attitude – the swagger – that Pochettino brought that made the most noticeable difference, and the players responded to it.

“We are here,” he said, “to help the players do their best.”

The USMNT was not at its best against Panama. However, it’s been as good as it’s been in a long time, and that’s a good start.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armor on social media @nrarmour.

This story has been updated to add new information.

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