The USMNT’s recent struggles have raised eyebrows, especially their defeats against Panama and Canada in the Concacaf Nations League. Bruce Arena, the former manager of the team, voiced his dissatisfaction regarding the selection of Mauricio Pochettino as head coach. Pochettino’s tenure began in August 2024, succeeding Gregg Berhalter after a disappointing Copa America showing, but results have not improved under his leadership.

In a candid discussion on the podcast “Unfiltered Soccer,” hosted by Tim Howard and Landon Donovan, Arena emphasized the importance of cultural familiarity in coaching. He stated, > “You know if you look at every national team in the world, the coach is usually a domestic coach. And I think when you have coaches that don’t know our culture, our environment, our players, it’s hard. I’m sure our coach is a very good coach, but coaching international football is different than club football. It’s a completely different job.”

Arena further expressed his shock about the team’s failure to perform, questioning, > “If you ask me if we lack pride, well, I’m watching and I’m shocked. I’m shocked we can’t beat Panama and Canada. It was shocking to me.”

He emphasized the necessity for national coaches to understand the pride and significance of the team to Americans, arguing that external hires may lack that fundamental comprehension.

With players like Tyler Adams and Pochettino both echoing concerns over the team’s commitment and culture, Arena’s critiques underscore the critical path ahead as the US prepares for upcoming tournaments, including the Gold Cup.