Mauricio Pochettino Era Begins with Victory

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) defeated Panama 2-0 with goals from Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi, marking a successful debut for their new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino.

As one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup, the US faced Panama in a friendly match. The first half ended goalless, but the US took control in the second half. Musah scored in the 49th minute, and Pepi sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time (90+4).

First Match, First Victory

Pochettino led the USMNT in his first game as head coach. After the match, he expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It’s great to see the team focused and following the plan after only a few days of training. This is the foundation for us to grow and improve.”

Pochettino, who replaced Gregg Berhalter, has previously managed teams such as Chelsea, Southampton, Tottenham, PSG, and Espanyol. The USMNT will face Mexico in their next friendly.