Following the World Cup draw, also referred to as FIFA’s showcase event, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino is shifting his focus to evaluating players from clubs on both sides of the Atlantic as the next training camp approaches in over three months.
As the selection for next summer’s national team looms nearer, Pochettino is drawing inspiration from past American coaches who faced their own challenges in a different international sport while assembling his 26-man roster.
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“I was watching `Miracle` and heard the coach state, `You don’t need the best players; you need the right players to build a strong team,`” Pochettino noted, resonating with Herb Brooks — portrayed by Kurt Russell — as he formed the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey team in 1980.
Pochettino remarked, “What is good and what is right are entirely different.”
Coaching the national team for the first time, Pochettino is working with a limited player pool compared to Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain, where top talent can be acquired to fit coaching strategies. With the national team, he must maximize the talents available to him while fostering team chemistry.
Recent months have been promising, highlighted by a five-match unbeaten streak against teams qualified for the World Cup, boosting confidence and optimism within the squad. Now, Pochettino must concentrate on identifying players that deserve a spot in the World Cup, independent of their club affiliations or previous performances.
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With Major League Soccer entering its off-season and Mexico’s Liga MX nearing its winter break, Pochettino will currently focus on players based in Europe participating in league matches and continental tournaments.
USMNT prospect Sebastian Berhalter matched up against Lionel Messi in the MLS Cup on Saturday.
(Icon Sportswire, Getty Images)
After attending the World Cup draw at Washington’s Kennedy Center on Friday night, Pochettino traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for Saturday’s MLS Cup, where he observed a competitive lineup of players expected to participate in the World Cup (Sebastian Berhalter) and two additional candidates (brian white and tristan blackmon) from the Vancouver Whitecaps, who lost to Inter Miami, where Pochettino’s Argentinian compatriot plays. White contributed to the tying goal early in the second half.
Once the season concludes, the three Whitecaps players and at least a dozen more MLS players from the U.S. roster won’t be back in action until February. Some players will participate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the start of the month, while others will begin their season at the end for the start of the 2026 regular season.
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Regardless, Pochettino must make a strong impression before finalizing his training camp roster for the Belgium-Portugal friendly in Atlanta at the end of March—the last opportunity before selecting the World Cup squad in late May.
The weekend in Europe…
Due to injury, forward Folarin Balogun (Monaco), midfielder and defender Tanner Tessman (Olympique Lyon), and midfielders Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) and Johnny Cardoso (Atletico Madrid) were unavailable.
Antonee Robinson has not represented Team USA in over a year and continues his recovery from a knee injury that kept him out of Fulham’s match-day roster for two months.
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england
Leeds midfielder Brendan Aaronson came off the bench in the 65th minute during a challenging match against Liverpool, assisting Anton Stach’s goal in the 75th minute, helping to rally for a two-goal comeback. After the visitors took the lead in the 80th minute, Leeds equalized late in stoppage time.
Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams was unable to participate in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea due to suspension after receiving a yellow card. Center back Chris Richards helped Crystal Palace secure a 2-1 win over Fulham.
Striker Haji Wright returned to action after a three-game injury hiatus, coming on in the 75th minute of Coventry City’s 3-0 defeat to Ipswich Town, which ended their five-match winning streak.
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Striker Josh Sargent scored a diving header in the 11th minute during Norwich City’s 3-2 loss to Watford, ending a 15-match scoring drought for club and country. This marks Sargent’s sixth league goal for Norwich, who sit second from the bottom in the 24-team league. Forward Patrick Agyeman played a full match in Derby County’s 3-1 loss to Leicester City.
Italy
After recovering from a minor foot injury that sidelined him the previous weekend, Christian Pulisic came down with a fever and flu-like symptoms over the weekend but was fit to participate in Monday’s match in Turin with AC Milan. After Milan fell behind 2-1, Pulisic entered the match in the 66th minute and scored an equalizer in the 67th minute, followed by the winning goal ten minutes later.
Midfielder Weston McKennie contributed with an assist during Juventus’ second-half equalizer, but they ultimately lost 2-1 against Napoli.
Yunus Musa remained an unused substitute as Atalanta lost 3-1 to Hellas Verona.
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Netherlands
In his second consecutive year as a starter, Ricardo Pepi scored again for Heerenveen, playing 90 minutes as PSV Eindhoven secured a 2-0 victory. Pepi (five league goals), who has predominantly been a substitute this season, is emerging as one of Pochettino’s key strikers alongside Balogun and Wright.
Right back Sergiño Dest has chained seven consecutive 90-minute performances for PSV, with an impressive record of 13 wins, one loss, and one draw—including nine straight league victories and a total of 14 consecutive games without a defeat.
France
Center back Mark McKenzie was vital for Toulouse, helping them win 1-0 against Strasbourg. Meanwhile, Tim Weah played the full match in a narrow 1-0 loss for Marseille against Lille.
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Germany
After a successful U.S. camp in November, Gio Reyna started again for Mönchengladbach as they won 1-0 against Mainz, marking his second consecutive start in the Bundesliga. His teammate Joe Scally was on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as a right-back.
In a match featuring American players on both sides, defender Noah Kimmich played the full 90 minutes as Augsburg faced midfielder Malik Tillman from Bayer Leverkusen in a 2-0 contest. Midfielder James Sands participated for 73 minutes in St. Pauli’s 1-1 draw against Cologne, playing as a left wing-back in the second division. John Tolkien was substituted after halftime in the game between Holstein Kiel and Braunschweig.
others
In Scotland, center back Auston Trusty played for 90 minutes as Celtic fell 2-1 to Hearts, marking a tough start for their new manager Wilfried Nancy after leaving Columbus Crew. Additionally, Club America winger Alex Zendejas is currently on a break between Liga MX’s split seasons.
As soccer fans, this news is significant because it highlights the careful deliberation behind team selection ahead of the World Cup, reflecting Pochettino’s strategic vision. His focus on chemistry over individual talent could redefine how U.S. soccer approaches international competition moving forward.
