Given the state of Italian football, it is the kind of trajectory the Azzurri might look at with some interest. Assuming, of course, that Italy’s own billionaires were willing to intervene.
Only two years ago, the United States were in a difficult moment. A disappointing Copa América campaign, Gregg Berhalter’s dismissal and a worrying lack of technical direction had created uncertainty ahead of a home World Cup. An appointment that could not be mishandled.
According to reporting by The Athletic, the process that led to Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival involved far more than a conventional coaching search. The Argentine, now in charge of a US side that opened its World Cup campaign with a convincing victory over Paraguay, was backed by a broad effort involving influential business figures, sponsors and donors determined to secure a coach with international pedigree for Christian Pulisic and his teammates.
The context was clear. The United States has never produced a generation of coaches capable of establishing itself consistently at the highest level of the game, or of delivering the definitive breakthrough with the national team. Looking abroad became the logical solution. While Pochettino had never managed a national side before, his work at Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham had made him one of the most highly regarded coaches in European football.
While the federation handled negotiations with the Argentine, a network of wealthy supporters worked behind the scenes to secure financial backing for the operation. Their objective was to assemble a package worth several million dollars per season.
“Without that outside support, we would never have been able to sign him,” the federation’s president admitted.
It remains too early to draw firm conclusions from a sporting perspective. In two years in charge, Pochettino has reached a Gold Cup final, losing to Mexico, while also collecting some encouraging results in friendlies, including a five-goal victory over Uruguay. The World Cup will provide a more meaningful measure of progress.
What can already be observed is that the United States arrived at the tournament with a renewed structure, both in personnel and in technical direction. The extent of Pochettino’s influence will become clearer over time.
A strong World Cup has become a matter of national interest. In a country where sport remains closely tied to identity, visibility and investment, a deep run could have effects well beyond the pitch. The prospect of Pulisic leading American soccer beyond the quarter-finals — a stage the United States has never surpassed at a World Cup — also carries an economic dimension. Infrastructure, broadcasters and the wider football ecosystem would all stand to benefit from the momentum generated by such a result.
In that sense, much of the project begins with the coach. Judging by the resources mobilised to secure his appointment, there are influential figures in American football who view him as a central part of the country’s ambitions.