USA vs Panama Friendly Could Spark The American Dream or Lead to Pochettino’s Letdown

Mauricio Pochettino has come in to coach the U.S. Men’s National Team with one mission: take the team to a place it’s never been before—right to the top of the world. The Argentine coach, who’s led European giants like Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Tottenham, is now in charge of the USMNT, and his task is crystal clear: make history at home during the 2026 World Cup. That’s no small ask. Expectations around him are already sky-high, especially when you consider he’s the biggest name to ever take the reins of U.S. soccer.

But before we start dreaming about hoisting that golden trophy at MetLife Stadium, there’s a long road ahead. And that journey begins, both symbolically and dangerously, with a friendly against Panama this Saturday. Yeah, the same Panama that handed us a bitter loss during the 2024 Copa América group stage. It’s like a ghost we haven’t quite shaken off yet, making this match more than just a friendly. It carries the weight of what’s to come: either the U.S. steps into this new era on the right foot, or a lot of folks will start wondering if hiring Pochettino was just an expensive mistake.

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The truth is, the Argentine coach has got to prove why he’s here. There’s no more room for excuses with the USMNT. We want to see real soccer—intense, technical, with a clear identity. That’s what Pochettino promised during his pressers: a hungry team, one that controls possession but isn’t afraid to get pragmatic when needed. Nice words, of course, but what really matters is what happens on the field.

For U.S. soccer, this shot with Pochettino is a make-or-break moment. We’re talking about a coach who almost took Tottenham to the top of Europe but came up short in his last stints with PSG and Chelsea. Does he still have that golden touch? Or is the pressure of building a winning team from players with different leagues, styles, and cultures too much, even for him?

Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah are names that could make a difference. But building a real team, a well-oiled machine, takes time. And time? That’s one thing he doesn’t have in abundance. It’s less than two years until the World Cup and only nine international windows. Translation: Pochettino’s gotta work some magic, turning lead into gold at record speed.

Now, some might say, “It’s just a friendly, who cares?” Well, Pochettino cares. And so does the American fan base, hungry for a soccer team that actually competes. This game is the first chance to see what he can do with the group he’s got. It’s not just about winning or losing, it’s about how the team plays. If it’s more of the same old uninspired, soulless soccer, the doubts will only grow. But if the team shows that high-intensity style Pochettino’s been talking up, it could spark hope that, maybe, just maybe, U.S. soccer is finally growing up.

Plus, there’s recent history to think about. That loss to Panama in Copa América wasn’t just any loss. It was a slap in the face. That 2-1 defeat showed just how far we are from being a powerhouse. Getting revenge, even in a friendly, carries psychological weight. Beating the guys who knocked us out of Copa América would be a big step in rebuilding the team’s confidence.

One thing Pochettino’s made clear from the start is that he’s not gonna exclude players just because they play in Major League Soccer (MLS). That might sound like a no-brainer to anyone who doesn’t follow European soccer closely, but it’s an important mindset shift. Traditionally, national team coaches favor players from big European clubs, but Pochettino seems to see things differently. He even mentioned Lionel Messi, now in MLS, as proof that it’s possible to play at a high level in the American league.

Let’s not be naive here. The friendly against Panama isn’t going to fix all the USMNT’s problems overnight. But what it will do is give us a first glimpse of what to expect from the Pochettino era. If the team shows organization, intensity, and a will to win, it’s already a promising start. If it’s the same old story of a team with no identity, the criticism will start rolling in.

U.S. soccer has a golden opportunity to grow and establish itself as a force over the next few years, especially with the World Cup being held at home in 2026. Pochettino could be the guy to lead that transformation—or he could just be another big-name coach who couldn’t handle the reality of soccer in the U.S. Either way, the friendly against Panama will give us the first clue about what the future holds for this team.