Every Gold Cup tournament brings significant expectations for the U.S. men`s national team, perennial contenders for the title. However, the upcoming competition feels particularly critical for coach Mauricio Pochettino`s side. This represents his final major opportunity to secure silverware with the team before the 2026 World Cup on home soil, where a strong performance is widely anticipated.
Given these stakes, it`s noteworthy that Pochettino is working with such a youthful and inexperienced squad. Only six players have earned 30 or more international caps, a smaller number than the seven players who are yet to make their national team debut before facing Turkey on Saturday, the first of two pre-Gold Cup friendlies. The roster`s inexperience is partly circumstantial, as key players like Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic are dealing with fitness issues, while others such as Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, and Gio Reyna will be participating in the Club World Cup.
Should the team reach the Gold Cup final on July 6th, Pochettino could potentially spend a full month with the players. This extended period offers a crucial opportunity to solidify the tactical ideas he`s been developing, something he`s previously only been able to work on during brief training windows since taking charge last October.
During a press conference on Friday, Pochettino highlighted the value of this time. He stated that the Gold Cup presents 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 added, “I think now it`s a great opportunity to be together during one month. … 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 opportunity as having two key benefits. Firstly, it allows the team to identify and work on the “too many areas that we need to improve.” Secondly, it`s a chance to course-correct, especially after the disappointing fourth-place finish in the Concacaf Nations League finals in March, an event where the team`s mental fortitude was a significant talking point.
Pochettino cautioned against comparing the current Gold Cup roster to the one from March, asserting that “the circumstances are completely different.” He noted that while the CNL roster featured more established players, they failed to build effective chemistry during their two poor performances. In contrast, this summer`s squad includes many players who are newer to the national team environment, providing valuable experience as they learn to work under the new head coach.
Tyler Adams, one of the more experienced players in the Gold Cup squad, described the current phase as a “learning period.” He acknowledged the necessity to adapt to “different things, new principles, new players coming in, getting familiar with each other, finding out each other`s tendencies and finding the best way to succeed on the field.” Adams admitted this process “always takes a little bit of time,” but expressed optimism about the “great opportunity” ahead, highlighting the positive impact of “a lot of new faces and new energy” on the team.
While partly due to unforeseen circumstances, the unavailability of players over the past eight months has led to more chances for less experienced individuals than might have been initially expected in Pochettino`s tenure. Some players have already seized these opportunities; Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna was a standout performer during the challenging CNL games and is back for the Gold Cup. Charlotte FC`s Patrick Agyemang, for instance, has a real chance to make his case as the USMNT`s primary striker following injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent`s omission (which Pochettino termed a “football decision”). Adams, who came through the New York Red Bulls academy system, sees the large number of MLS players on the roster as a positive development.
Adams shared his enthusiasm for the squad, stating he was “quite excited, to be honest with you,” because as a player who earned his first cap while still in MLS, he understands the effort required to gain recognition. He believes “all these guys that are here deserve to be here” and possess “different skill sets” that can benefit the team going forward. He noted the positive atmosphere among the players, describing the “vibes are high right now” and that everyone is “ready to take their opportunity and ready to prove a point,” viewing the upcoming friendlies as an important test for everyone.
Over the next month, Pochettino must navigate the challenge of evaluating new talent while being unable to work with key established players. This presents a delicate balancing act for a relatively new coach, especially with the 2026 World Cup only a year away. The stakes are undoubtedly high, particularly after a difficult preceding year marked by a group stage exit at the Copa America and a change in management. However, the team hopes that the challenges they have faced will serve as a valuable formative experience rather than an indicator of future outcomes.
Adams reflected on this duality, saying, “Obviously, you wish that you win every game in the lead up to a World Cup and you`re flying with confidence but it`s a double-edged sword so to speak, isn`t it?” He suggested that constantly winning games that “don`t really matter” might not prepare the team effectively for the World Cup. Instead, going through a “period of adaptation” and “struggle a little bit,” as the team currently is, can help them “realize what`s in front of you and understand how valuable playing in a home World Cup is going to be.” Adams feels the team is “right where we`re supposed to be right now.” He concluded that they have “struggled, we`ve gotten beat down… and now we need to continue to prove that we are at this level and able to improve.” He acknowledges that “There`s room for improvement for sure, but I`d rather that than to be perfect” at this stage.
