Mauricio Pochettino is finally moulding the USMNT in his own image

The countdown clock to the start of the 2026 World Cup has ticked louder for the USA than any other national team this year. Under the pressure of being one of three co-hosts, Mauricio Pochettino’s team have spent much of 2025 grappling with questions of identity, purpose and heart.

While many hoped the summer’s Gold Cup would be a chance for Pochettino to mould the national team in his own image, the number of injured players made it a missed opportunity. The team that played the majority of the tournament will be very different to the one that kicks off the World Cup on home soil next summer.

Now, though, Pochettino finally looks to be getting to grips with the USMNT. The two performances against Ecuador and Australia were the most encouraging of the Argentine’s tenure to date with Pochettino’s World Cup roster starting to take shape. At long last, there is good reason for American fans to be optimistic.

The performance in the 1-1 draw with Ecuador was especially positive. Against a side that finished second in CONMEBOL qualifying, ahead of Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay, the USA weren’t only able to limit the number of opposition chances, but was comfortable enough to impose their own game.

It was a similar story against Australia. While the Socceroos took an early lead following a defensive lapse, the USA recovered well and fought back to deservedly win 2-1. Pochettino made six changes to the lineup that started against Ecuador, giving opportunities to a number of fringe figures, but the approach on the pitch remained the same.

This was perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the October window. Pochettino has given the USMNT a consistent framework to build on top between now and the start of the World Cup. That framework involves a back three, although as we saw against Ecuador it can morph into more of a 4-4-2.

Tim Weah called his role in the draw against Ecuador a “fake wing back.” It made sense when it became apparent that the Marseille wide man would operate higher up the pitch than an orthodox wing back. There was a fluidity to the way Pochettino set up his team in Austin.

Against Australia, Alex Freeman and Weah were deployed as conventional high-and-wide wing backs, but the general approach remained the same. The US built out from the back in a three and had a double pivot in central midfield behind two dual number 10s. At the top of the team was a lone striker.

Folarin Balogun caught the eye in the draw against Ecuador, finding the back of the net and generally giving the US a focal point in the final third. Haji Wright also made the most of his opportunity in the win over Australia, bagging a brace. For the first time in years, the US have good options up front. 

“We still [have a] long time to the World Cup,” Pochettino said after the Australia game. “And I think we can assess [the group], and it’s open. It’s open for every single USA player that is playing here or outside of this country. The thing that is important [is] they need to feel the confidence and trust [from] us. And when they come, it is because we are going to provide the possibility to play and show [their] quality.”

Of course, nothing achieved in the matches against Ecuador and Australia will determine the success or failure of Pochettino’s time as USMNT head coach. The gauge of that will be taken at the World Cup when the pressure will be on for the co-hosts to make a meaningful run. At the very least, the USA must make it out of the group stage.

Pochettino’s process is still ongoing, but it was only a few months ago that many were questioning the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur boss. They doubted if he truly wanted to be USMNT head coach. Some of his roster selections were widely scrutinised.

All of a sudden, the mood has shifted and Pochettino seems to be in control of things. This isn’t to say that the 2026 World Cup is guaranteed to be a glorious success, but the USMNT are finally heading in the right direction. Pochettino is now showing why he was hired in the first place.