Last month, Mauricio Pochettino took the helm of the United States national team, marking his return to management after parting ways with Chelsea in the summer. After a brief period of unemployment, the Argentine coach accepted the invitation to prepare the U.S. squad for the 2026 World Cup. Pochettino has already begun to instill his philosophy and celebrated a victory in his debut match against Panama.
The U.S. team played a friendly against Panama at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, drawing over 20,000 enthusiastic fans. The first half ended goalless, but AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah broke the deadlock early in the second half, with an assist from his clubmate Christian Pulisic.
Despite Panama’s attempts to equalize, the U.S. defense held strong. In stoppage time, PSV striker Ricardo Pepi sealed the 2-0 win with an assist from Haji Wright, giving the U.S. a confident start under their new coach.
After the game, Pochettino praised the team’s “very professional” display, saying, “We are gradually building something. The goal is 2026. This is just the first step.”
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Pochettino, who began his managerial career in 2009, has coached teams like Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. His tenure at Chelsea ended on May 21, following a series of poor results.
Next: The U.S. will face Mexico in another friendly on Wednesday, October 16, during this international break.
