By JAMES ROBSON
Mauricio Pochettino predicts the USA can dominate soccer and Donald Trump will put stress on him to ship at subsequent yr’s World Cup.
The U.S. males’s nationwide staff coach believes it’s only a matter of time earlier than America leads the way in which on the planet’s hottest sport.
“I think we can dominate soccer, football, maybe in 10 or 15 years’ time, or maybe less: five, six, seven years. The potential is massive,” Pochettino instructed English media. ”In 5 or 10 years, for certain we might be No1 on the planet.”
Pochettino was employed final September to succeed Gregg Berhalter as coach and lead the nation into the 2026 World Cup, which it co-hosts with Canada and Mexico.
Notably, the 53-year-old Argentinian, stopped wanting saying his staff might produce a shock victory at subsequent yr’s match, however he believes with Trump as president, a lot can be anticipated of his staff.
“For us, the pressure is going to be there because we are a host,” he stated. “In sport, in everything that Americans are involved in, they want to win. The players know it’s going to be massive pressure and now our president (Trump) likes to put pressure on, but it’s welcome. That means we are going to feel the adrenaline we need to feel. We are ready to deliver.”
Pochettino would possibly welcome that stress, however he was uneasy with FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s response when, on a current White Home go to, Trump requested him if the U.S. might win the World Cup.
“Gianni said yes, but I was disappointed with this answer,” he stated. ”He ought to say: ‘You need to ask your great coach, Pochettino.’ As a result of for certain, he can provide a greater opinion.”
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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Initially Printed: March 19, 2025 at 10:57 AM PDT
