Mauricio Pochettino began his tenure as the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) coach with a 2-0 victory over Panama in a friendly match in Austin, Texas. This win marked the end of a four-game winless streak for the USMNT and was greeted by a near-capacity crowd. The goals came from Yunus Musah, who scored his first international goal, and Ricardo Pepi, with assists from Christian Pulisic and other team members. Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham and Chelsea, was hired to lead the team through the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host. His debut saw the team employ a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation, with promising performances from players like Aidan Morris. The match was also significant for Pulisic, who played under his eighth U.S. coach, setting a record for an American player.