Gold Cup Run Provides ‘Massive Lesson’ For Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT

United States Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino started the press conference after his team’s 2-1 loss in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Final by congratulating the victors, Mexico, not just once but twice – in both English and Spanish.

The head coach was a good sport fresh off leaving the pitch where his team lost to the their biggest rival in a Cup final. In a match deemed World Cup caliber because of its intensity, high level of competition and setting, a United States lineup that averaged just 23 caps gave the defending champions a run for their money. The U.S. started fast, opening the scoring in the fourth minute. As the match continued, Mexico climbed back to tie it up, then broke a 50-minute deadlock with the game-winner in the second half.

The result put the U.S. one win away from a trophy, and one win away from Pochettino’s first title since being named USMNT head coach in September 2024, a fact the manager acknowledged as “very painful.” But even though his team came up short on the night, Pochettino’s outlook, like his introduction, was positive and focused on building.

“It’s a massive lesson for us,” Pochettino said. “What I’ve seen is priceless. It was an amazing tournament to realize the way that we want to grow... I think we’re going to find the way to compete better and better and better, to be very competitive and be in the place we wanted to be.”

Lessons learned from this tournament start with the depth of the squad. Heading into the Gold Cup, the USMNT was missing several mainstays. The 26-player roster averaged only 16 caps entering the tournament, just eight in official competition.

The starting XI that took the pitch Sunday against 17th-ranked Mexico reflected the makeup of the roster. Only five starters had faced Mexico before. For several players, it marked the first time seeing the regional rival in their international careers.

This tournament gave players quality experience on a big stage. It also allowed Pochettino, in his first year as head coach, to get to know his players more during this 40-day camp and see what they're capable of on the pitch. When looking at the entirety of the tournament run, the United States witnessed several breakout performances:

• Malik Tillman and Diego Luna, the talented attackers who led the team in goals this tournament.
• The Chris Richards-Sebastian Berhalter connection, which opened the scoring tonight against Mexico after linking up earlier in the tournament.
• Matt Freese, the goalkeeper who came up huge during the penalty shootout against Costa Rica to send the USMNT through to the semifinals.
• Alex Freeman, the phenom who became the first player 20 years of age or younger to start six straight matches for the United States at a Gold Cup.
• Max Arfsten, the efficient fullback who showed his creativity in the attacking third and finished the tournament with four goal contributions.

Another takeaway from the tournament is the overall results. The United States completed group play unbeaten, winning all three matches while conceding just one goal. In the knockout stage, the U.S. faced two tough opponents, Costa Rica and Guatemala – one in a penalty kick shootout and one in a particularly loud and hostile environment. The U.S. prevailed both times to advance, showing tremendous fight and poise, and clear a path toward the program’s 13th Gold Cup Final.

“I am so proud about the team,” Pochettino said. “Keep going, keep fighting, keep pushing. One year to the World Cup, too many positives even to take.”

The Gold Cup was the last competitive tournament for the United States before the FIFA World Cup kicks off next summer. Tonight’s match marked 340 days until the World Cup comes to the United States, Mexico and Canada. Sunday night's environment gave the world a taste of what next summer will be like – NRG Stadium, where tonight’s Gold Cup Final was held, is one of America's World Cup venues in 2026.

As one of the host countries next summer, the United States will want to perform well and make a deep run. If the Gold Cup is any indicator, the United States is sure to be competitive and bring a deep squad when the world’s biggest soccer tournament arrives on American soil.

“The most important thing is to have our head up because I think the tournament was fantastic,” he said. “Keep going. That is the way that we want to build our journey to the World Cup. In this way, I have no doubt that we are going to be really, really competitive and going to be difficult for the opponent.”