United States boss Mauricio Pochettino has questioned the timing of the Club World Cup and hinted it will hamper his ability to foster a positive team environment.
The USMNT head into this summer’s Gold Cup without the likes of Gio Reyna, Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie, who will be on club duty instead.
From the USA to the FA Cup winners’ circle. 🇺🇸
Congratulations to Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards and Matt Turner! pic.twitter.com/NhxTrrqQoc
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 17, 2025
And just 12 months out from the World Cup, hosted by the US as well as Canada and Mexico, Pochettino said it would have been useful to spend a decent chunk of time with the squad in preparation for next year’s global showpiece.
“It’s a situation that forces a team like the US, or Mexico, Canada and Panama, whose best players are involved in the [Club World Cup], to get by without players that would normally be with us,” he said in remarks reportedly the Athletic.
“Most coaches are thinking about the World Cup and about the possibility of being with the players for over a month before a tournament that is a year away.
“It’s going to be an important time. The [Club World Cup] doesn’t benefit any of the national teams. But we know how the business of football goes and it’s up to us to minimize the harms that can occur when you play in simultaneous tournaments.”
Pochettino hopes US can rebound from Nations League disappointment
Pochettino has struggled to make an impact with the US since succeeding Gregg Berhalter last year and his team were timid in losing to both Panama and Canada in the Nations League in March.
But the Argentine remains confident that if they use the lessons from those defeats wisely, they can improve.
He added: “Even losing I think we need to take many positive things.
“With the knowledge that we have now and how we saw the team compete, I think we [have] to try now to also be better [as a] coaching staff, to provide the players a better platform, better tools for them to compete.”
The Gold Cup starts on June 15 when the US face Trinidad and Tobago in Group D that also contains Saudi Arabia and Haiti.
