When Mauricio Pochettino signed on in Sept. 2024, only 10 international windows — nine regular FIFA dates, plus the 2025 Gold Cup — separated the USMNT from the 2026 World Cup. After each window, “Ten Windows” digs into key developments and charts the USMNT’s progress towards 2026.
Results this window:
USA 1, Ecuador 1 (Balogun 71’; Valencia 24’)
USA 2, Australia 1 (Wright 33’, 51’; Bos 19’)
The story this window:
The USMNT’s ship has been turned around. Now what will it look like when Pochettino sails it into port?
Life comes at you fast, they say. But if anything comes at you faster, it might be a vibes shift within the U.S. men’s national team.
Consider the Americans’ run at the 2009 Confederations Cup. Most USMNT fans will remember that the U.S. knocked off a Spain team at the height of its purported invincibility in the semifinals, and had Brazil on the ropes in the final. Far fewer will remember the U.S. entered the tournament on the back of a less-than-inspiring start to the 2009 Hexagonal, got drubbed 3-1 by Italy in their group stage opener, and then collapsed to a hideous 3-0 defeat against Brazil that could have been several goals worse. So ugly was the U.S. performance vs. La Selecao that observers of the time thought Bob Bradley should have paid for it with his job.
