Mauricio Pochettino has already clinched first place in Group D for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup. Wins over Paraguay and Australia guaranteed that. So with Turkey up next and nothing on the line in terms of advancement, the Argentine manager decided to lean into his new home in a very specific way.
Two days before the match, Pochettino posted a photo on Instagram from his office. He’s watching game film. But on his desk sits a laptop playing Good Horses by Lainey Wilson, featuring Miranda Lambert. His caption: “Training Prep with american vibes @laineywilson.”
USMNT fans ate it up. The official fan account reposted it with “We’re going all the way” and an American flag emoji. It’s the kind of cultural crossover moment that makes you forget for a second that Pochettino is a native of Buenos Aires who spent most of his coaching career in England and Spain.
Best Start in Nearly a Century
This is the best opening to a World Cup for the United States in the modern era. The only other time they went 2-0 in group play was 1930, the first World Cup ever. That team won its three-team group and advanced straight to the semifinals, where Argentina beat them 6-1. That same Argentina beat France on penalties in the 2022 final. Pochettino was born in 1972, so he wasn’t involved. But the history is still sitting there.
Rest or Rhythm?
Now comes the real coaching question. Pochettino has to decide whether to rest his starters against Turkey. A 12-day layoff before the Round of 16 is a real concern if he sits everyone. But tired legs on July 1 against a third-place qualifier is also a risk. The team hasn’t announced their lineup plan yet.
Pochettino’s relaxed Instagram post suggests he’s not panicking about it. But that doesn’t mean the game is meaningless. A win would give the USMNT its best-ever World Cup start outright. That’s not nothing.
What’s clear is that the relationship between Pochettino and American fans is working both ways. He’s embracing country music and cowboy boots and whatever else comes with the job. And the fans are embracing him back, especially with the team winning. That’s how these things usually go. It’s easier to love the foreign coach when the scoreboard looks good.
The Turkey match kicks off in two days. Then the real tournament starts.
Leave a Comment