A new era for U.S. soccer is beginning, led by an Argentine coach who is expected to achieve big results at the 2026 World Cup on American soil.

Former Tottenham and Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino makes his U.S. debut in two friendlies, leading the team against Panama in Austin on Saturday night and against Mexico in Guadalajara three days later.

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Pochettino did not feature in the first 26 games of the World Cup cycle, while Gregg Berhalter and three interim coaches were in charge. These games are the first of eight international windows in which Pochettino must evaluate players and develop tactics before the team reports ahead of the 2026 tournament.

Pochettino said patience is in order. The coach, his team and the players spent this week not only training, but also introducing themselves.

Success is measured by how well staff and players get to know each other, are organized and provide a clear message to players about expectations.

“Of course, football is about competing and winning. Our fans definitely want to win,” Pochettino said on Friday. “At the same time, they need to understand our first contact with the entire organization and the players. We can’t put too much pressure. … We have to give the team time to adapt to us.”

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Panama beat the United States in the Copa América in July after Tim Weah received a red card in the 18th minute for hitting an opponent. The U.S. has won only once in Mexico, in a 2012 friendly at Estadio Azteca.

Weah is among several injured starters who will miss these games, alongside Sergiño Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun, as well as occasional players Johnny Cardoso and Chris Richards.

The USA is automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as co-hosts along with Mexico and Canada. Pochettino’s job is to lead the US deep into a tournament where they have not reached the quarterfinals since 2002 and the semifinals since 1930.

The 52-year-old Argentine has coached Espanyol in Spain (2009-12), Southampton (2013-14), Tottenham (2014-19) and Chelsea (2023-24) in England and Paris Saint-Germain in France (2021-22). ), left the team after winning a league title with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

But it is the first time he has led a national team. He is the first foreign-born coach of the US team since Jürgen Klinsmann from 2011 to 2016.

“The challenge for us is to put together a team,” Pochettino said.

Pochettino’s first squad includes Christian Pulisic, who has scored five goals in seven Serie A games for AC Milan this season and became the first American to score in four consecutive games since Queens Park Rangers’ Roy Wegerle in September 1990 scored a goal in a top 5 league in Europe.

Pochettino described Pulisic as one of the best attacking players in the world in his current form.

“It’s nice to hear. I still have a long way to go until I’m at the top. I think I’m on the right track,” said Pulisic.

What will Mauricio Pochettino’s first starting lineup look like against Panama?

But he also played a lot and Pochettino said Pulisic arrived at training camp tired.

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, a surprise omission from Berhalter’s 2022 World Cup squad, is back after reviving his career with Colorado following a disappointing spell at Manchester City.

Pulisic and other players used the word “intense” to describe their first training camp with Pochettino.

“Every coach has a different style. The training was definitely intense…which was a good thing. I think we have to figure out exactly how we want to play,” Pulisic said.

What are the expectations for the next two games?

“I don’t like raising expectations. Of course we want to go out and get results. We want to win both games,” said Pulisic. “But the most important thing is to get to know each other and feel comfortable as a team and as players and just feel confident when it comes to bigger events.”

Defender Tim Ream, the oldest player on the squad at 37, said this week the players were ready to take on anything.

“The message is that he wants to win, right? (Pochettino) has his principles, he has his ideas, but at the end of the day it’s about winning,” said Ream. “And you know, it’s important to have that mentality. It’s important to have this attitude in the future and in these games and beyond.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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