The U.S. men`s national team traditionally faces significant expectations entering the Gold Cup as a perennial contender. However, this edition carries a distinct weight for head coach Mauricio Pochettino. It marks his final chance to secure silverware with the current squad before the 2026 World Cup on home soil, where many hope for a landmark performance.
Given this context, it`s noteworthy that Pochettino is working with a roster skewed towards inexperience. The Gold Cup squad features only six players with 30 or more international appearances, a smaller number than the seven individuals who have yet to earn their first cap before Saturday`s friendly against Turkiye, one of two warm-up matches leading into the tournament. Several factors contribute to this younger group, including fitness issues for key players like Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic, while Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, and Gio Reyna are committed to Club World Cup duties.
Looking ahead, Pochettino potentially has an entire month – should the team reach the July 6 final – to finally embed his tactical ideas. This contrasts sharply with previous brief international windows where limited training time was available.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Pochettino commented on the opportunity: “I think it`s a great opportunity for us to settle things that sometimes it`s difficult when you only have a few days to train and you need to play.” He stressed the value of the extended period together, stating, “Always, it`s about the opportunity. You need to provide the opportunity to the player and the player maybe can take it or not, but the important thing now is to trust in this roster and try to compete, believing that we can win.”
Pochettino views this period as a dual opportunity. Firstly, it`s a chance to identify and correct the “too many areas that we need to improve,” particularly after the disappointing fourth-place finish in the Concacaf Nations League finals in March, where team mentality was a significant point of discussion.
Pochettino argued that comparing the current squad to the March CNL group isn`t fair due to “completely different circumstances.” He noted that while the CNL roster had more established players (where developing chemistry was a priority, albeit one that didn`t fully materialize), this summer`s squad intentionally offers opportunities to players less integrated into the national team environment. This is seen as beneficial for a wider talent pool still adapting to the new head coach.
Tyler Adams, one of the few veterans on the roster, described the current phase as less of a “transition period” and more a “learning period.” He emphasized the need to adjust to new concepts, incorporate new players, learn each other`s playing styles, and find the most effective ways to perform on the field. While acknowledging this process takes time, he expressed enthusiasm for the “new faces and new energy” in the squad, believing it will be positive for the team.
Circumstantially, recent player unavailability has led to more chances for less experienced players, many from Major League Soccer (MLS), than might have been expected when Pochettino took charge. Some have already impressed; Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna was a rare bright spot in the March CNL games and returns for the Gold Cup. Charlotte FC`s Patrick Agyemang could stake a claim for the striker role given injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, plus Josh Sargent`s exclusion described by Pochettino as a “football decision.” Adams, himself an MLS academy product, sees the strong MLS presence as a positive.
“When I saw the roster, I was quite excited, to be honest with you,” Adams said, reflecting on his own journey through MLS to the national team. “I know how you have to work to be a little bit more respected and all these guys that are here deserve to be here.” He added that the MLS players bring “different skill sets” and can help the team, noting that “the vibes are high right now. Everyone here is ready to take their opportunity and ready to prove a point so with these two friendly games before the Gold Cup, I think it will be a great opportunity to test everyone.”
Pochettino will navigate the next month balancing the evaluation of new talent with the missed opportunity to work with a full complement of established players. This is a complex task for any relatively new coach, made more difficult by the fact that the World Cup is just a year away. The stakes are indeed high, especially following a challenging year that included a group stage exit at the Copa America and a coaching change. For now, however, the team hopes these recent difficulties serve as valuable formative experiences rather than an indication of future outcomes.
Adams reflected on the recent struggles, suggesting that while winning consistently leading up to a World Cup might seem ideal, it`s a “double-edged sword.”
“You could be winning a bunch of games that don`t really matter and get to the World Cup and not have the performance that you want or you can kind of go through a period of adaptation like we`re going through right now and struggle a little bit and realize what`s in front of you and understand how valuable playing in a home World Cup is going to be so to be honest, I think we`re right where we`re supposed to be right now,” Adams stated.
“We`ve struggled, we`ve gotten beat down, we`ve been pegged back a stone, so to speak and now we need to continue to prove that we are at this level and able to improve. … There`s room for improvement for sure, but I`d rather that than to be perfect.”
