Mauricio Pochettino arrived at the helm of the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) with all the fanfare you'd expect for such a big name. The Argentine, who built his reputation in Europe’s top leagues, made his debut with a 2-0 win over Panama in Austin, Texas. It might seem like a straightforward result, but there’s a lot more to unpack beyond the scoreline.
Sure, the 2-0 against Panama wasn’t anything spectacular. And it wasn’t supposed to be. It was a friendly, after all—players were pacing themselves to avoid injuries, with club seasons still in full swing. But even in this match, there were glimpses of what could be the future for the USMNT under Pochettino’s leadership. Yunus Musah, who’d never scored for the national team before, opened the scoring after a slick passing sequence between Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson. Then Ricardo Pepi, Austin’s hometown favorite, sealed the victory with a stoppage-time goal.
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Still, the scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story. Even though the game wasn’t flashy, the team showed solid fundamentals. What stood out the most to me was how Pochettino adjusted the lineup. Quietly, without much fanfare, he moved Musah from his usual spot in the middle to the wing—a smart decision that really paid off.
How much did Pochettino actually shake things up with this team? From the looks of it, he mostly stuck with the playbook left by Gregg Berhalter, with a few tweaks here and there. He didn’t try to reinvent the wheel, which honestly, makes total sense. After just a few days of training, Pochettino couldn’t exactly overhaul everything. Still, his touch was noticeable, especially in how the team defended, keeping Panama from finding many gaps.
Pochettino also showed he’s not one to take unnecessary risks. Take Weston McKennie, for instance. Dealing with some minor physical issues, McKennie didn’t take the field, and Pochettino was clear about his priorities: not making things worse for a key player. Some might call that cautious, but it’s exactly the kind of pragmatism this team has been missing. Right now, the focus is on keeping key players healthy and building up the squad step by step—no need to rush.
The big highlight of the night was definitely Yunus Musah, finally finding the back of the net for the national team. At the 49th minute, he latched onto a low cross from Pulisic and, with a first-time strike, scored the goal that set the U.S. on the path to victory. It was a huge moment, not just for Musah, but for the team, which hadn’t shown much attacking bite up until that point. It’s interesting to see how Pochettino remembered Musah’s history as a winger during his days with Arsenal and Valencia’s youth teams and tapped into that for Saturday’s game. It shows he really gets his players—and that could be a game-changer for the USMNT moving forward.
But this team still struggles with consistency up front. Panama, a team that’s given us trouble in the past, had chances to level the score. If not for Matt Turner’s saves right after Musah’s goal, things could’ve gone differently. If Pochettino wants to turn the U.S. into a soccer powerhouse in the long run, he’s going to have to address this lack of punch in the attack—especially when the competition gets tougher than Panama.
Now, if there’s one guy who loves playing in Austin, it’s Ricardo Pepi. The striker, who’s scored some clutch goals there while with FC Dallas, once again left his mark. With a goal in the 94th minute, he secured the win and strengthened his bond with the Texas crowd. Pepi’s one of those players who seems to thrive when playing in front of a familiar crowd, and you could see that in his celebration after the goal. More than just a supersub, he’s starting to show he could be a crucial part of the attack in this new era.
Tuesday’s friendly will be the real test for the USMNT and Pochettino. If beating Panama was a walk in the park, taking on Mexico away from home is a whole different ballgame. Historically, the U.S. has had a tricky relationship with El Tri, especially on Mexican soil. This match will reveal a lot about how Pochettino plans to handle the big games and whether he can really elevate this team to the next level.
That being said, there’s a sense of optimism. Pochettino’s pragmatic, sure, but he’s not one to shy away from the big moments. And with a squad full of promising young talent, there’s reason to believe he could break through that historical barrier and deliver a big win in Guadalajara.