USMNT and Mauricio Pochettino Embrace American Culture During World Cup

The United States men’s national team (USMNT) manager, Mauricio Pochettino, recently identified himself as ‘200% Argentine.’ Despite this, he is immersing himself in American culture during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

An example of this cultural blend occurred when Pochettino energetically sang John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ after the USMNT secured a win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1.

Next on Pochettino’s cultural journey is Major League Baseball. The Seattle Mariners announced that Pochettino, along with the USMNT, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. This event will take place during the Mariners’ game against the Toronto Blue Jays at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Friday night, July 3.

In preparation, FOX Sports’ Doug McIntyre captured a charming video of goalkeeper Matt Turner showing Pochettino the basics of throwing a baseball during Thursday’s training session. Additionally, the USMNT’s official Instagram account shared footage of players Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards, and Weston McKennie practicing their throws.

The USMNT is slated to face Belgium in the Round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday, July 6, with the match set to commence at 8 p.m. EST. The last time the USMNT met Belgium at a World Cup was in the Round of 16 in 2014, where Belgium emerged victorious with a score of 2-1. In a more recent encounter, Belgium dominated the USMNT 5-2 in an international friendly in late March.

Pochettino remains unfazed by the USMNT’s previous World Cup struggles and holds firm in his belief that this team is capable of winning the tournament. ‘Why not us?’ he expressed following the victory over Bosnia.

A triumph against Belgium would represent a significant achievement for the USMNT, marking their first appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal since 2002, when they were defeated by Germany.