Mauricio Pochettino has disclosed that as many as 40 hopefuls remain in contention for a place on his 26-man United States Men's National Team roster for the upcoming World Cup. However, the head coach candidly suggested that not a single American player currently ranks among the world's elite top 100 footballers.
Disappointing Defeats Conclude Pre-Tournament Preparations
The USA concluded its World Cup preparation phase with a 2-0 defeat against Portugal on Tuesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This loss followed a concerning 5-2 humiliation against Belgium just four days earlier, casting a shadow over the team's readiness for the summer tournament on home soil.
Pochettino, who took over the national team in August 2024, has experimented extensively with his lineup during this period. He made six changes to his starting eleven for the Portugal match, continuing his evaluation process ahead of the crucial squad announcement scheduled for May 26.
The Daunting Selection Process Ahead
The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager now faces the formidable challenge of reducing a substantial player pool to just 26 names before the USMNT's World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12.
'It is going to be painful because that process… is going to be difficult to pick only 26 from 35, 40,' Pochettino admitted. 'Who will be there is going to be happy, who is not on the roster is going to be sad.'
The coach emphasized that the recent matches marked the conclusion of the team's preparatory cycle, stating: '[This] was the end of our cycle... for preparation for the World Cup. I think this is the end because the next roster is going to be the roster that is going to be involved. I think it's too many things that we need to assess and to see in the next few weeks.'
Lack of World-Class Talent Acknowledged
Attempting to contextualize the recent losses, Pochettino highlighted the superior quality available to both Belgium and Portugal—nations ranked within FIFA's global top ten.
'I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players, a few or some playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have,' the Argentine tactician conceded, delivering a sobering assessment of American footballing talent at the highest level.
Pulisic's Struggles Continue
The team's talismanic captain, Christian Pulisic, endured another frustrating evening against Portugal, squandering several significant scoring opportunities before being substituted at halftime. The attacking midfielder has now failed to find the net for either club or country since December 28.
Pochettino acknowledged his star player's difficulties but remained optimistic about an imminent return to form: 'Yes, he feels frustrated, but that is what we want, what we expect. He was fighting... he's going to score because he has quality. I am sure that he's going to come back to his club and the moment that he scores, he is going to score again.'
Final Evaluation Period Begins
Pochettino revealed that he has not yet discussed the impending selection dilemma directly with his players, preferring to let performances speak for themselves during the final weeks of assessment.
'I think now they know that it's going to be a competition,' the coach explained. 'They know that we are going to see every single week, every single game, and we are going to assess one year and a half or more, and we are going to make the decision.'
With the World Cup rapidly approaching, Pochettino faces intense scrutiny as he attempts to mold a competitive squad from a pool of players he admits lacks genuine world-class quality, while managing expectations for a nation hosting football's premier tournament.
