Pochettino admits U.S. World Cup roster selection will be ‘painful’ following Portugal loss

The New York Times • April 1, 2026 • general

Key Points:

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino faces difficult decisions in selecting the final 26-man World Cup squad from a larger pool of 35-40 players, with the roster announcement set for May 26 in New York.
The U.S. team suffered back-to-back defeats against top-ranked European teams Belgium (5-2) and Portugal (2-0), but Pochettino emphasized positive takeaways and the importance of competing against elite opponents.
Pochettino highlighted that the team is close to the required level, with only small details needing improvement, and expressed confidence in further refining these areas during the upcoming World Cup preparation camp.
Specific game mistakes, such as defensive positioning on Portugal’s first goal, were described as "fixable," and the coach stressed the need for players to internalize lessons from high-level competition.
Christian Pulisic was praised for his active involvement as the starting striker despite not scoring, reflecting overall team frustration but also positive individual efforts during the match.

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