The Athletic has live coverage of the FIFA Men’s 2026 World Cup draw.
WASHINGTON — U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino said he had “zero stress” about Friday’s World Cup draw, where his team will learn its group stage opponents and path through the World Cup.
Speaking on Wednesday night at a Telemundo event, Pochettino was asked how he would feel watching the draw.
“We’re experiencing it with a lot of joy,” Pochettino said. “I think it’s a unique situation — at least in my 53 years, it’s the first time I’m going to be in something like this, living this moment. And I think it brings maximum joy, huge motivation to find out who your opponents will be. Right? Zero stress. I don’t know — very calm, you know? Trying to enjoy an event that is the biggest global event in any sport, in all of sports. And I think this is something to enjoy, not something to suffer through.”
As a host country, the U.S. is in Pot 1 and thus will avoid the giants of global soccer, including Spain, France, Germany, Brazil and Pochettino’s native Argentina. But there is a wide span in terms of degree of difficulty, from groups like Colombia, Norway and Italy down to Austria, Uzbekistan and Cape Verde.
Pochettino was also asked what his message would be for the Latino population that feels both American and also tied to their cultural identities.
“The message is that they support us — that they come to watch the team, that they come and create that energy that is so necessary in soccer, in football, like in other countries, because that energy is powerful, very powerful,” Pochettino said. “When the synergy between the team, the players, and the people, the fans, flows naturally, it gives the team an extra boost of energy that I think can tip the balance in your favor. And in this sport, that’s something you feel a lot. The player needs it in the good moments, because the player wants to enjoy those moments with the people, and the people want to enjoy them with the team.
“But in difficult moments, which always happen during the 90 minutes, when the fans are there and the player feels that support, there’s always just a little bit more. There’s an extra spark, a push, like that Formula One button you press that gives you a little more power. I think that’s what people need to understand, right?
“For me, I think there are many examples. Here, I believe that whether someone is American — truly American, as you said — or Latino who feels connected to America and the United States, to the colors and to this sport we love, we need them. We need people to come and support us.”
Pochettino continued by pointing to the results against Paraguay and Uruguay in November and the impact of the crowds on those wins.
“There’s a very good opportunity in Atlanta for people to come watch good matches against Belgium and Portugal,” Pochettino said. “And just like what happened in Tampa — I’m grateful to the people in Tampa. And also in Philadelphia. It was incredible. And that’s not chance. It’s not a coincidence. It’s not a coincidence the team performed against Paraguay and Uruguay in the way they performed, because if you look, the crowd was amazing in Philadelphia and in Tampa. The players get that energy and translate it onto the field.”
