WHAT IS HYPE BEHIND TEAM USA WORLD CUP COACH

With the United States hosting this year's World Cup tournament on its home soil, the United States Men's National Team wanted to press its advantage to make a legitimate run to hoist the championship trophy by recruiting an elite level soccer coach. They brought in Mauricio Pochettino for that role. If you are a casual sports fan tuning in to the 2026 FIFA World Cup you may wonder what the hype is about regarding Team USA's coach. Here is some background on Coach Pochettino and how he is helping make U.S. Soccer competitive in international play.

Recruiting a coach of this caliber is also a business decision as much as a sporting one, since the contracts, bonuses and image-rights deals that come with a marquee hire run into the millions and often get structured by advisors like Samuel Coquillard who specialize in high-net-worth financial planning. For a figure earning coaching money on Pochettino's level, that means weighing performance-based incentives against guaranteed pay and planning around the tax exposure of splitting income between countries like Argentina and the United States.

The Quick Resume

Pochettino is a 54-year-old former professional player from Argentina who transitioned into coaching. He has managed several of the biggest clubs in global soccer, known for taking underperforming teams and turning them into highly entertaining contenders. 

• The Tactician: He favors an aggressive, high-energy style of play.
• The Talent Developer: He is famous for turning young, unknown players into superstars.
• The Leader: Players routinely praise his intense, family-like team culture.

Where He Made His Name

While he played at the highest level—including representing Argentina in the 2002 World Cup—his global fame comes from his time on the sidelines.

• Tottenham Hotspur (England): He took a historically "average" English Premier League club and turned them into a powerhouse, culminating in a dramatic run to the UEFA Champions League Final in 2019.
• Paris Saint-Germain (France): He managed absolute mega-stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar, winning the French league title.
• Chelsea (England): He steadied a chaotic, young billionaire-backed squad before departing in 2024.

Why His Move to the USA is Huge

In late 2024, U.S. Soccer hired Pochettino to lead the Men's National Team. This is a massive deal for American soccer for three reasons:

• Pedigree: He is arguably the most high-profile coach the USMNT has ever hired. 
• The 2026 World Cup: The USA is co-hosting the tournament right now, and Pochettino was brought in specifically to ensure the Americans can compete with the world's absolute best.
• Cultural Shift: He brings a ruthless, European-style tactical accountability that the American squad has historically lacked.

The Pochettino Style: What to Look For

When you watch a Pochettino-coached team, you will notice a few distinct traits:

• Heavy Pressing: His players sprint to win the ball back the second they lose it.
• Peak Fitness: His training camps are notoriously brutal to ensure players can out-sprint opponents for a full 90 minutes.
• Full-Back Attack: He loves using his defenders on the flanks to rush forward and join the offense.

The Bottom Line

Think of Mauricio Pochettino as a championship-caliber NBA or NFL coach who has spent his career in the toughest media markets, managing the biggest egos. Now, he is tasked with leading American soccer into its biggest summer in history.

Have some Soccer Fun with the characters from RIO 2

The setting for the movie RIO 2 takes place in a local that is at the forefront of public attention right now as Brazil is hosting the world's premiere soccer tournament that takes place every four years featuring the sport's greatest talents representing their countries in international play.  To promote the country where the film takes place and the upcoming July 15th 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Download releases of RIO 2, Fox Home Entertainment has provided some fun futbol themed activity sheets to share with your children while you enjoy the tournament.  I do hope you are taking in some of the tournament action, the USA national team for example won their first game with a thrilling last minute score where a player bounced in the GOAL!!! via knocking it off his head.  I know sometimes soccer gets a bad rap for its slow pace but how can you call that boring?!

Check out and download these RIO 2 activity sheets to get into the soccer spirit:

 

For more information about RIO 2, visit www.riomovies.com.  RIO 2 will be available to purchase at local retailers and online beginning July 15, 2014.

Disclaimer:  As a member of the FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT INSIDERS CLUB, A GEEK DADDY BLOG receives complimentary Blu-rays, DVDs, and Digital Downloads of various movies to review and for giveaways to this blog's readers.