Mauricio Pochettino Shines in His Debut as USA Coach with a 2-0 Win Over Panama

Mauricio Pochettino made a successful debut as head coach of the United States with a 2-0 victory against Panama in a friendly at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. This win ends a four-match winless streak for the U.S. team and marks the beginning of a journey aiming to be fully prepared for the 2026 World Cup.

The first half was quiet, but in the second half, Pochettino’s tactics became evident. Yunus Musah scored the opener in the 49th minute, assisted by Christian Pulisic. The second goal came in stoppage time, with Ricardo Pepi sealing the win for the U.S., securing a strong start for Pochettino.

A New Era Leading to 2026

After the match, Pochettino expressed satisfaction but emphasized that there’s still room for improvement: “It’s a good start, but the road to the World Cup is long. What’s important is that we competed in all phases of the game.” His next challenge will be against Mexico, a tougher opponent that will further test the team’s progress under the new coach.

This first win boosts hopes that Pochettino can transform the United States into a serious contender for the 2026 World Cup, which they will co-host with Mexico and Canada.