"A bit of nastiness within the team" — that's how Christian Pulisic describes what Mauricio Pochettino has been building with the USMNT ahead of the World Cup. Not poetry on the ball. Not a beautiful system. Nastiness.
Pulisic expanded on it during an appearance on the Men in Blazers podcast: Pochettino "brings energy" and a mentality that means "we're going to go, we're going to press, we're going to fight, we're going to do the little dirty things at times that help you to win games." For a team that has historically wilted when the moment got physical or pressured, that's a meaningful shift in identity — if it holds.
The Senegal win wasn't perfect, but it was purposeful
The 3-2 win over Senegal in Charlotte gave that mentality some early evidence. It came after back-to-back March friendly losses to Belgium and Portugal, so the result mattered as much psychologically as it did on paper. Pulisic got on the scoresheet — his first international goal since 2024, and his first of 2026 — and celebrated like he needed it. He probably did.
Pulisic put it plainly: "It's not just about being all nice and playing beautiful tactics in football. I think we have a good balance of the two." That balance — pressing, being annoying, winning second balls — is exactly what separates tournament sides from ones that look good in friendlies and fold in Group Stage heat.
Pochettino's message to the squad heading into the tournament has been straightforward: build momentum, build chemistry, enjoy it. "You don't get these every day," Pulisic said. That's true. But enjoyment without results at a home World Cup won't be remembered fondly.
What 'success' actually looks like for this squad
Pochettino has publicly stated he wants the USMNT to win the whole thing. That's the kind of talk that fires up a locker room and gets laughed at everywhere else. A more grounded target: win a knockout game for the first time in 24 years. With the expanded format introducing a Round of 32, the USMNT would need to win two knockout matches just to match their 2002 quarterfinal run — which remains the only time they've ever won multiple knockout games at a World Cup.
- USMNT open Group D against Paraguay on June 12
- A Round of 32 win followed by a Round of 16 win would be historic for the program
- Pulisic's goal against Senegal ended a drought stretching back to 2024
That's the bar. Not the trophy. The fact that clearing it would be historic tells you everything about where this program actually stands — and why Pochettino's "nastiness" doctrine might be exactly the right medicine.
