How coach Mauricio Pochettino made believers out of the U.S. World Cup team

NPR reports that Mauricio Pochettino, hired as the most high-profile coach in U.S. men's soccer history, has successfully transformed the USMNT's trajectory, with the team now advancing to the World Cup knockout stage after an initially bumpy rebuild period. The article, bylined by Becky Sullivan at NPR (a major national outlet), uses narrative framing around player belief and buy-in rather than detailed statistics or tactical analysis, reflecting a human-interest approach to sports reporting. Independent coverage from the LA Times, BBC Sport, and Yahoo Sports corroborates the core narrative: Pochettino instilled belief and confidence in a previously doubted squad within approximately 20 months, and the team is performing well enough to reach the knockout round. Readers should monitor the USMNT's performance in the knockout stage and watch for announcements regarding Pochettino's contract status for a potential second World Cup cycle, as The Athletic reports such decisions are deferred until after the 2026 tournament concludes.