USMNT, Pochettino luring new US fans with strong performances

LOS ANGELES – The last time the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994, the team had not advanced to the knockout rounds in 60 years.

“When I was 8 years old, my dad took us to watch USA vs. Colombia at the Rose Bowl where they won 2-1,” L.A. local Israel Guerrero said.

That historic upset pushed the U.S. through the group stage for the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1930. When the Americans lost in the Round of 16 in 1934, there was no group stage.

With the World Cup back in America, fans are falling in love with the beautiful game. FIFA has helped create intimate fan experiences throughout the tournament’s various host cities, including one at Union Station in Los Angeles from June 25-28, where fans shared their early reactions to the USMNT’s performance.

“The World Cup has sparked my interest ‘cause I love sports,” Californian Melanie Shaw said. “I’m actually a baseball fan, and the Olympics, but I started watching since it’s in America. I’m learning more about soccer just by watching the USA team, showing more of an appreciation to soccer.”

Seasoned fans know this is an extraordinary time. The United States Men’s National Team finished first in its group at the World Cup for the first time since 2010.

“I did not think, in my lifetime, that I would see a good American soccer team,” L.A. local Phreezy Naufaldy said. 

Excitement can be felt throughout the nation.

“I was in Seattle for the USA versus Australia game and everyone there was stunned by how comfortably we won that one,” Orange County Register reporter and USMNT fan Benjamin Royer said.

As dominant as the Stars and Stripes were in their first two matches, fans were upset that the team lost its final Group D match to Turkey. Coach Mauricio Pochettino encouraged them not to overreact.

“The objective was to finish first and we are first,” he told reporters Thursday in his post-match press conference. “Now is the next stage, and it’s going to be a final, but we are ready.”

Entering the knockout stage, the USMNT is inspiring the nation in more ways than one.

Pochettino’s Power

Since taking charge in late 2024, Pochettino has actualized what fans always believed was possible for the USMNT.

“Pochettino and the quality of the players, they’re at a completely different level than they’ve been anytime in the recent past,” Guerrero said. “Better than they’ve ever been.”

The Argentine manager is bringing passion to a country largely devoid of soccer fandom.

“I think Poch is a great manager, he’s expediting what these players can do,” fan Joshua Di Fiore, who lives in Long Beach, said. “For example, putting (Antonee) Robinson and (Sergiño) Dest on the wings elevates their game instead of having them play back.”

The U.S. Soccer Federation recently offered Pochettino a contract extension that would see him coaching the U.S. through the next World Cup in 2030. Fans are hopeful this could be the beginning of something beautiful.

“He’s really good at pushing players for short periods of time, and with the national team, you’re not with the players for years at a time, you’re in spurts, so I think it could be a good thing,” Guerrero said.

Not all fans agree, seeing as Pochettino has yet to defeat a European nation with the USMNT.

“I’m a Gregg Berhalter defender, so I’ve been less than impressed with Pochettino as a coach until the World Cup,” Royer said, citing the USMNT’s previous coach. “I am a little surprised by everything that’s going on.”

Matched up with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, now is the opportunity for Pochettino to change that narrative.

The American Dream

With the knockout bracket finalized, fans are keeping their expectations realistic.

“I think the Round of 16 is the limit for this group,” Royer said “They’ve got a good draw, but I don’t trust this group to play to their potential. Maybe that’s just the pessimism of rooting for the United States Men’s National Team my entire life.”

If the U.S. defeats Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, it will face the winner of Belgium and Senegal in the Round of 16. A win in that matchup would send the Americans to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.

“If they don’t get (to the quarterfinals) it would be a disappointment,” Guerrero said. “Quarterfinals or bust.”

The projected quarterfinal matchup would likely pit the USMNT against Spain, one of the tournament’s favorites. Spanish fans are certain they will spoil the USA’s Cinderella run.

“It’s a pipe dream,” Spain fan Chris Aguilera said of U.S. hopes. 

But the United States is a nation that never backs down from a challenge, proven decades ago by Mike Eruzione and the Miracle on Ice. Fans are hopeful Pochettino’s unit can create something similar.

“I think they can get as far as the quarterfinals,” Di Fiore said. “But anything’s possible because they’ve played so well in these group games.”

Growing the game

Regardless of how the U.S. performs in the knockouts, it has already won the nation’s support. 

“With players like Messi playing in MLS and the fact that we have the World Cup here, people are not just seeing this sport for what it is, but the culture of it,” Naufauldy said. “It’s not just putting the ball in the net. It’s so much more than that.”

Soccer is growing exponentially, with statistics showing it has passed baseball in popularity. The USMNT’s opening match against Paraguay generated over 27 million viewers, the most-watched soccer game ever in the U.S.

“I think it would be really fun if more people in the United States got involved,” local fan Barbra McLendon said. “I think soccer, unlike a lot of other sports, the fans have a role to play, the chanting, the singing. 

“It’s not like other American sports where you just sit there and cheer when there’s a score, you’re supposed to be in it all the way.”

That passion could take the U.S. to new heights as future generations watch star players they can idolize.

“I love Pochettino, (Christian) Pulisic is already a legend, (Folarin) Balogun is awesome,” Naufaldy said. “It’s really exciting to be a fan of US soccer right now.”

The World Cup hype is so real that Nike is struggling to keep up with the demand, with recent reports showing many top retailers are running out of jerseys before the knockouts even begin.

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