Mauricio Pochettino's vision for USMNT finally on display despite inexperienced team's loss to Turkiye

The USMNT lost 2-1 to Turkiye in the first of two pre-Gold Cup friendlies

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Not for the first time, U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino arrived at a post-match press conference after a loss, this time a 2-1 defeat to Turkiye in the first of two friendlies that will precede the Gold Cup. There was one thing he was relieved about, though.

"We need to be positive because today, I think only we can talk about football action, soccer action," he said.

The line was the first of several similar comments during his post-match remarks, one that carried the baggage of the team's uninspiring defeats during the Concacaf Nations League finals in March. Competitive edge was the big talking point out of those matches rather than the tactical identity Pochettino was hired to instill in a team that many believe have the potential to make a real impact at the 2026 World Cup on home soil. On Saturday, his vision was actually on display – the aggressive press and high line that have been the trademark of a Pochettino team for the last decade was fairly easy to spot, an approach that allowed them to dominate possession and outshoot the opposition 13 to 11.