Mauricio Pochettino dismissed recent speculation linking him to Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, saying there has been no communication with either club at this time. Speaking before the United States men’s national team faces Portugal in a friendly, he made it clear that his attention is firmly on the national team and the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup.
“No. At the moment, no,” Pochettino said when asked about any contact with the stated clubs, reinforcing that any outside rumors aren’t a priority right now.
Even with his name circulating following changes at Tottenham, following the recent departure of Igor Tudor, he emphasized that his commitment remains with the U.S. setup and the team’s preparedness ahead of the summer competition. His focus, he explained, is on continuing to build the team and getting it ready for the biggest stage rather than thinking too far ahead of what could happen following the event.
Despite his aggressiveness in saying he is not entertaining any of these rumors, he didn’t completely rule out staying beyond the tournament. “Never say never,” he said, obviously not knowing what would happen between him and the national team, and all decisions being relative to their success.
As for some players, including Chris Richards, there is good news following his absence from the match against the Belgian national team. The defender said he is ready to play after dealing with knee soreness from a recent club match. His absence was noticeable in that loss, particularly as the U.S. struggled defensively, most notably conceding four goals in the second half.
Both Richards and Pochettino pointed to improvements needed on the defensive side. The manager highlighted the importance of sustaining intensity for the full 90 minutes, while Richards said the back line needs to play with more edge.
The United States has three remaining friendlies in preparation for the World Cup, set to face Portugal, Senegal, and Germany, which will really put into perspective how ready the team is following the thumping they took from Belgium.
