Updated October 12, 2024 at 11:28 p.m. EDT|Published October 12, 2024 at 11:27 p.m. EDT
AUSTIN — Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival as the U.S. men’s national soccer team’s coach brought a wave of fresh energy, renewed hope after a lost summer and an uptick in excitement ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
But the Argentine’s hiring — considered a coup for an American program seeking a prominent guide from abroad — also has come with tempered expectations. For the time being, anyway.
As Pochettino cautioned in the buildup to Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Panama, “In the medium, long term, we can create a very strong side that is going to be difficult to play against.