IRVINE, Calif. — Trusting the Process
Over the past year, Mauricio Pochettino has often called on others to trust his approach and to stay the course. His choice to utilize last summer’s Gold Cup as a trial period was partly dictated by circumstances—Christian Pulisic was sidelined, and other players were either injured or busy with the Club World Cup. Still, Pochettino made the decision to bring in 14 players with limited experience, rather than selecting those closest to forming the ideal squad.
Before and after that tournament, the team’s identity was often questioned, especially following their defeat in the Nations League last March and the loss to South Korea in September. Time was running out; as of March, a clear identity was still a work in progress.
But now, after winning two consecutive World Cup matches for the first time in 96 years and advancing in their group with a game remaining, things look different.
Examining the Gold Cup roster reveals some intriguing developments. Matt Freese, Alex Freeman, and Sebastian Berhalter entered that camp without any senior national team caps. They’ve since played in the first two World Cup matches, with Freese stepping up as the starting goalkeeper and Freeman scoring in the 2-0 victory over Australia. Pochettino remarked that Freeman “has the potential to be one of the best players in the world in his position.”
Tactical adjustments and a culture Pochettino has nurtured—even at the cost of missing several camps—have paid off. The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) is now flexible, able to adapt strategies, including a two-striker formation, which they’ve rarely used before, even in the face of losing Pulisic due to injury.
“After the Korea game, someone asked me what I thought, and right away, I said, ‘We are all fully supportive and believe in the process that he has explained to us,’” Freese shared. “Our mission was to keep believing and working hard. I don’t think there was ever a question raised at any point.”
Pochettino might field Malik Tillman in a deep midfield role next to Tyler Adams, with Sergiño Dest on the wing and Freeman as a third center-back, while Ricardo Pepi could partner with Folarin Balogun up front.
A year ago, this scenario seemed unlikely. But it’s precisely why U.S. Soccer invested heavily to secure a seasoned manager like Pochettino, known for his tactical insight.
Earlier, the potential and talent of the USMNT felt more theoretical than actual. They won the Nations League and the Gold Cup in 2021, had a promising World Cup in 2022, and showcased numerous players excelling at club levels—making them appear as frontrunners in CONCACAF.
Yet, they never appeared to be a team that could genuinely compete at the World Cup level or beat top-tier countries. Their roster was impressive, but the cohesion lacked.
“I believe we need to discuss the team if we aim to win and aspire to greatness,” Pochettino remarked. “It’s not merely about the names; it’s about the U.S. national team.”
Something has shifted on the field since the 26-man squad gathered in New York less than a month ago. While the team still seeks that defining victory to affirm its place, what they’ve shown thus far—dominating games against Paraguay and Australia—may lay a more solid foundation for confidence than this program has experienced before.
“It’s just a construct,” said captain Tim Ream. “There’s no specific moment; we take lessons from every game and every training session. We understand that we have the tools to accomplish what we want—and now we’re beginning to put it all together.”
We can’t predict where this journey will take them, or when Pulisic might return, and whether this team will fully realize its potential. But one thing is clear: this possibility is no longer a mere theory. We’ve witnessed their capabilities; under Pochettino, this team can genuinely achieve something remarkable.
