Mauricio Pochettino sets sights on USA winning World Cup: ‘We need to believe’

Mauricio Pochettino said the United States have to “believe we can win the World Cup” in 2026 and said his players should start by following the example of the women’s team.

Former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea boss Pochettino was unveiled on Friday in New York and the former Argentina international will lead the team into their home World Cup, which they will co-host along with Canada and Mexico.

The United States last reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2002 and have never won the tournament - but the women’s team have won a record four World Cup titles as well as five Olympic golds, the latest masterminded by Emma Hayes.

Pochettino and Hayes crossed paths last season at Chelsea, and said he would take inspiration from their achievements. “One of the most important things we need to aspire to is the women’s team,” Pochettino said. “We have Emma, for me, the best coach in the world. They have won everything, and we need to match that.”

Pochettino left Chelsea at the end of last season and replaced Gregg Berhalter at the United States following the team’s group stage exit from the Copa America. Pochettino’s first games in charge will be against Panama in Austin and away to Mexico next month, with less than two years to go until their opening World Cup game in California in June 2026.

"We need to believe we can win the World Cup," Pochettino said. “‘Believe’ for me is a word that is so powerful. You can have enormous talent, but in football, you need to believe. Believe that all is possible. If we find a way to believe all together, then we can achieve what we want.”