European club soccer takes a break after this weekend’s fixtures making way for the first FIFA international break of the 2025/26 season.
For USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the upcoming international fixtures provide a crucial chance to work with his team ahead of next summer’s World Cup. Pochettino has been in charge for nearly one year but there has been little sign of cohesion from his much-changed squad.
The Argentine coach has named 12 MLS players to his USMNT roster for upcoming games against South Korea and Japan. Throughout, Pochettino has insisted that he will pick players based on form and he reiterated that promise during an appearance on Fox Sport’s Big Noon Kickoff on Saturday.
“The most important [thing] is to arrive in a very good condition and be competitive,” he said, when asked about his preparations for the 2026 tournament.
“And let these [fans] be very proud of the team and be excited,” Pochettino added. “I think it’s going to be an unbelievable event and I think it’s going to be [important] for USA and soccer and the future of soccer. And only what we want is our fans to enjoy, like they will today.”
Pochettino’s appearance on the Fox show came ahead of the much-anticipated college football clash between No. 1 Texas Longhorns and No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes came out on top with a 14-7 win.
He admitted that it was his first experience of college football in the United States but compared the febrile atmosphere ahead of kick-off to a derby game between Boca Junior and Rive Plate in his native Argentina.