Mauricio Pochettino’s topsy-turvy time coaching the US Men’s soccer team has warranted some serious discussion. The Argentine’s arrival was hailed as a signal by the people involved in US Soccer, to the rest of the world, that Americans are no longer going to be a cornered giant.
On paper, bringing a manager with coaching experience in Europe’s big leagues automatically demands a call for the spotlight of global attention, and is also an achievement from a commercial standpoint, marketing the game of soccer to the average American.
“Mauricio is a serial winner,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker would say, in a statement after hiring Pochettino, quoting him as someone with “a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams.”
However, Pochettino’s time has been anything but that. His implemented vision has been ho-hum, and the USMNT has also suffered from a lack of proper crowd support, with Pochettino asking for support similar to how Americans provide for college football.
When the ex-PSG and Spurs boss Pochettino went to watch the highly anticipated college football opener between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes last week, on what was his first-ever American football game, he was immediately impressed by the magnetic atmosphere.
Getting to meet a Hollywood superstar in Matthew McConaughey, a self-proclaimed soccer fan who owns MLS club Austin FC, Pochettino was wowed by the passionate intensity of the audience, admitting he was “surprised” and “jealous” of the atmosphere.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino is ‘jealous’ of college football atmospheres — and wants to see the same at USMNT games, after going to the Ohio State vs. Texas game.
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) September 6, 2025
“For me, it was a massive surprise. I’m 53. It’s difficult to have this type of surprise. But to live the… pic.twitter.com/2qeaT70yQW
The USMNT lost 0-2 to South Korea led by Heung-min Son at a fully packed Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, in a match where almost the entire audience wore Korean jerseys.
A defeated Pochettino urged the American audience to come to the USMNT games, almost as a last-ditch effort to save face after the Americans suffered their seventh loss against a FIFA top 30 opponent in their last eight games. The South Korean head coach Hong Myung-bo admitted, “It felt like a home match.”
Pochettino’s men have played most of their matches on home soil, practising for the 2026 World Cup, but have been subjected to face audiences teeming with away fans. Almost all their games have seen away fans dominating home crowds, much like yesterday’s South Korea game, where every Son touch was backed by roaring applause.
Before the match, Pochettino stressed on the importance of fans, saying “I think I feel a little bit of responsibility. It’s our responsibility to translate to all these people that, maybe, are more focused on another sport like American football. It’s to try to convince them to share that passion with soccer.
However, much of Pochettino’s requests seem to be falling on deaf ears.
Fans of the USMNT are wary of spending exorbitant ticket prices on home games where their team severely underperforms and is often second-best. While college football offers monetary parity for young audiences, the games are localised between colleges and thus warrant more loyalty and passion.
In a landmass as big as the United States, hosting games in a single stadium acts as a deterrent for audiences unwilling to travel to witness a failing team.
Choosing one stadium as the primary location for USMNT games in a nation as big as the U.S. is just a way of telling 2/3rds of the nation not to bother.
— Earl Fando 🇺🇦 (@earlfando) September 7, 2025
Fans are unwilling to pay for tickets to see their team lose, leading to a question of the real problem surrounding Pochettino’s request.
A team that’s winning will automatically grab more eyeballs and media coverage. The global success of the US Women’s National Team is the best example, with many Americans devotedly following and supporting them.
The men’s team, on the other hand, huffs and puffs to mediocre levels.
18-23 year olds aren’t paying $300 to watch Christian Roldan over-hit a pass to Brian White for 2 hours
— Blue-Orange Gator (@Blue_OrangeG8r) September 6, 2025
After the defeat, Pochettino urged fans to stay behind his team
“My message to the fans is that we’re going to arrive at the World Cup in the best condition and we’re going to be difficult to defeat.”
Although Mauricio Pochettino has had an exciting resume in European football, his time in America poses more questions than answers. As America gets ready to host a World Cup in 1 year from now, the home team has its task cut out.
