Today Is the Most Important Day: Mauricio Pochettino, the Gold Cup, and a Culture Reset for the USMNT

Nine months ago, Mauricio Pochettino walked into his first U.S. Men’s National Team press conference full of vision and fire, yet light on specifics. No big tactical breakdowns.

No deep dive into formations or favorite players. Instead, he delivered something that American soccer has long craved: a message. One centered around a single, driving word — culture.

He said it five times in one answer alone. Not “play,” not “win,” not even “develop.” Culture. The type of culture, he stressed, that turns every camp into something more than just a meet-up of guys in matching tracksuits. He wanted intensity. Urgency. Something that felt like it mattered.

Now, as the 2025 Gold Cup kicks off, we’re about to find out if that message has stuck. If Mauricio Pochettino’s gamble — using a depleted squad to light a fire under a fading team — will pay off. Or if it’s just another ambitious idea lost to the messy reality of international football.

Culture vs Comfort: Mauricio Pochettino’s Early USMNT Struggles

Miles Robinson, Mauricio Pochettino USMNT

Let’s be clear: it’s been a rough ride so far.

Since taking the reins following a disastrous 2024 Copa America campaign that ultimately spelled the end for the previous regime, Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT tenure has been anything but smooth. A 5-5 record heading into the summer, a four-game losing streak at home — their first such run since 1988 — and very little of the swagger you’d expect from a team that should be peaking ahead of a home World Cup in 2026.

The losses themselves have been painful. But what stings more is the mood — the listlessness. The sense that, somewhere along the way, competing became secondary to simply showing up. And Mauricio Pochettino, despite his reputation as a builder of teams and personalities, hasn’t yet broken through that wall.

“If you arrive at the camp and you want to have a nice time, play golf, go for a dinner… that is the culture that we want to create?” he asked rhetorically before the tournament. “No, no, no, no. What we want to do is to go to the national team, arrive and be focused and spend all my focus and energy in the national team.”

The message is clear: the vibe must change.

The Gold Cup Bet: Less Talent, More Hunger?

At first glance, using the Gold Cup — CONCACAF’s premier tournament — as a testing ground for younger, unproven talent might seem counterintuitive. With the World Cup just a year away, why not solidify your core group? Build chemistry? Make a run?

But that’s not how Mauricio  Pochettino is playing it.

What he’s aiming for instead is a reset. A culture shock. By calling up a roster filled with players who’ve barely sniffed the senior level — 11 with five caps or fewer, six making their debuts — he’s sending a loud message to the regulars: your spot is not guaranteed.

Diego Luna is the prototype. A breakout performer since January, Luna has brought not just talent but attitude — a desire to fight, to make an impression, to earn everything. That’s the spirit Mauricio Pochettino wants. That’s the tone he’s trying to set.

And if a few more “Diego Lunas” emerge this summer? Mission accomplished.

Christian Pulisic’s Absence, and the Dominoes That Followed

Christian Pulisic USMNT vs Panama

The most glaring absence this summer is, of course, Christian Pulisic. His decision to opt out for rest was a shockwave moment, a move that sparked public criticism and, reportedly, internal frustration.

Pochettino hasn’t blasted Pulisic directly — he’s too diplomatic for that — but his tone has shifted. Suddenly, it’s not about who’s missing. It’s about who’s here.

The list of missing names is staggering: Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest. Injuries, club obligations, personal choices — whatever the reason, the dominoes kept falling, and Mauricio Pochettino made a clear decision to lean into the chaos.

He could have called up MLS regulars like Josh Sargent, Joe Scally, or Tanner Tessmann. Instead, he went younger. Hungrier. Riskier.

“Football decisions,” he said when asked. “I think all the players that are for the first time with us, all deserve to be there, deserve to have the chance.”

The Friendlies That Shook Confidence

Diego Luna USMNT

Ahead of the tournament, two friendlies offered a brutal reality check.

Against Turkey, there were signs of progress. A 2-1 loss, yes, but one filled with fight, structure, and tactical intent. Players like Luna, Alex Freeman, and Quinn Sullivan showed glimpses. After the game, Mauricio Pochettino even joked about how refreshing it was to talk about football rather than effort or attitude.

Then came Switzerland. And the mood flipped.

A 4-0 demolition in Nashville exposed all the cracks. Poor positioning. Weak pressing. An unfamiliar midfield overwhelmed. The U.S. looked disjointed, outclassed, and — most worryingly — unsure of who they were.

Afterward, Mauricio Pochettino took the blame.

“I wanted to give the possibility to others on the roster to play,” he admitted. “That was our decision. But it’s something that went in the wrong direction in the beginning… This is about learning.”

But time is not infinite. With the Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago now just days away, learning has to happen fast.

Can the USMNT Actually Win the Gold Cup?

Mauricio Pochettino USMNT vs Switzerland

With all the stars missing and momentum running dry, expectations are understandably muted.

Mexico and Canada have brought stronger squads. Jamaica is stacked with attacking flair. Panama — the U.S.’s current bogeyman — has their number. Even Saudi Arabia, a group opponent, has proven giant-killing pedigree.

So, can the U.S. win this Gold Cup? Realistically, maybe not.

But perhaps that’s not the point.

Success this summer might not come in the form of silverware, but in something harder to quantify: culture change. A few players stepping up. A squad that plays with energy and identity. A group that competes, not just plays.

If the U.S. finishes this tournament with a clearer idea of who belongs in the locker room next June — who has the fight, not just the flair — that’s a win.

What’s at Stake: More Than Just a Trophy

Mauricio Pochettino has staked a lot on this summer. In a way, more than just his job — though that too might be in question if results continue to falter. What’s really on the line is the direction of the program.

This isn’t a team that can afford to coast toward the 2026 World Cup, hoping home advantage papers over the cracks. The U.S. needs to evolve. Fast. And Mauricio Pochettino believes this uncomfortable summer could be the catalyst.

He said it back in September, and he’s saying it again now: “Today is the most important day.”

And for a struggling USMNT hoping to turn the page, maybe that’s true.