“Pochettino makes a promise of the World Cup to Trump, but does the US team respond?”

Mauricio Pochettino, the new head coach of the United States men’s soccer team, made an audacious promise to former President Donald Trump: to ensure that the team can win the 2026 World Cup. During a revealing conversation on the High Performance Podcast, the Argentine coach, who took charge of the USMNT in September 2024, recalled a brief but significant encounter with Trump at the World Cup draw ceremony held in December.

Pochettino described the moment when Trump directly asked him, “What do you think, coach? Can we win the World Cup?” Confidently, the coach replied, “Of course, Mr. President. Because it’s the USA. The American dream is present. It’s about being first. Being number one. We truly believe we can win. We’re at a moment where, after a year and a half, people are starting to feel that we have what it takes to succeed.”

The draw was favorable for the United States, which was placed in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and one of Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo. Pochettino, banking on the energy of the home crowd, expressed optimism about his team’s chances of making a deep run in the tournament.

However, the pre-World Cup matches will be crucial to validate Pochettino’s belief. After a shaky start under his leadership, the USMNT found its form at the end of 2025, finishing the year with an impressive five-match unbeaten streak, including victories over Japan, Australia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, even without some of its star players.

The challenges awaiting the national team in March and June, however, are on another level. During the international window in March, the USMNT will face Belgium and the current UEFA Nations League champions, Portugal. In June, the last two matches before the World Cup will be against the newly crowned AFCON champions, Senegal, and the powerful Germany.

These clashes against elite opponents will serve as a true test for the USMNT’s credentials on the road to the title. While the team has shown it can overcome rivals from Concacaf, CONMEBOL, and Oceania, it will need to defeat European and African giants to make its mark in history this summer. Underperformances in the preparation matches could jeopardize the promise made by Pochettino to Trump even before the tournament begins. On the other hand, some victories or hard-fought draws could provide the confidence boost the team needs to shine on the biggest stage in sports, even if reality suggests they are not yet ready to challenge favorites like Spain, Argentina, and France.

As for Pochettino’s future, he signed a two-year contract that will take him through to the 2026 World Cup. If the USMNT excels this summer, U.S. Soccer will certainly want to ensure the coach’s continuity. However, Pochettino has left open the possibility of a return to European football, revealing that the trophy he most desires to win is the Champions League. He quickly added that he “does not know” which club that would be for.

The desire to lift the most prestigious trophy in Europe is not surprising, considering it eluded him during his time at Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. However, this raises the question: does Pochettino have plans to return to Europe after the World Cup? Only the coach himself knows the answer, but the fact that it remains an open question indicates uncertainties regarding his future with the USMNT. An unsatisfactory performance at the home World Cup could push the Argentine back to Europe, leaving the United States once again undergoing a period of transition.