Can it get any better than this?
Mauricio Pochettino signed on for a full cycle leading the U.S. men's national team, with both the Argentine manager and the U.S. federation agreeing that a full cycle would give him the time needed to improve on the round of 16 finish at the 2026 World Cup.
Three games in, everyone looks very smart.
The U.S. has scored at least three goals in the first three matches of the 2030 World Cup cycle. The attacking explosions led to a 4-1 win over Peru, a 4-2 victory over Chile and a 3-0 triumph against regional rival Mexico.
And Pochettino has done it by kick-starting the United States' youth movement. Teenagers Julian Hall, Cavan Sullivan, Justin Ellis and Adri Mehmeti all have looked up to the level of a senior international
player. Diego Kochen, who is 20, started in goal against Mexico and kept a clean sheet.
Pochettino's approach has differed from regional rivals
Other managers, including ones Pochettino has squared off against in this window, have opted for more veteran squads. The average age of the American starters against El Tri was just under 24 years old. Mexico's average age was older than 27.
Now, the U.S. heads into a game against Canada, another North American rival, with a chance to close out the window in perfect fashion.
"Coming off three for three wins, especially against a rival like Mexico, my first one with the team, it’s a really good feeling," Mehmeti said Monday. "This game is going to be similar. We’re going to go after it, try to get the win and try to play the best football we can."
Not only has Pochettino managed to give the young players a chance, he's gotten good results without players who he knows he can lean on going forward. This window saw the coaching staff leave out players like Christian Pulisic, Flo Balogun, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah. Those players can come in for November's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matches
The veteran players that are in the camp, whether it be new U.S. captain Tyler Adams, center back Chris Richards or fullbacks Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest, have set the tone for the group, even with it clear Pochettino is weighing up who the best option is at each spot on the field.
"Fantastic atmosphere. It’s a big credit to the senior players in the way they’ve welcomed the new players. The young players were so smart in the way they needed to behave, they listened to the senior players, to the coaching staff and I think they behaved really well," Pochettino said Monday. "That’s the way we need to keep going to build that chemistry in between the senior players and the new players.
"That is one of the most important things that happened in this window. To have three weeks to build that relationship, that’s a tactical situation important to build. Without this, it’s difficult to propose something on the pitch and feel complicity inside."
What does the USMNT need for this window to be a total success?
The USMNT has enjoyed a long window that has been a dream to this point. Canada could sour that considerably, though the U.S. manager hinted he may make a number of changes as he looks to ensure his players all get back to their clubs fully fit and ready to contribute this weekend.
But even if the U.S. stumbles against Canada, Pochettino is far more concerned about what his group looks like in official competition when he can blend the veteran players with the young guns on the rise.
"The result: Peru, Chile, Mexico it’s important - it’s obvious that it’s important - but it’s not our principal objective," Pochettino said. "It’s about [how we can] keep growing and it’s important for the players to finish the job in a very good condition. I’m sure the players, even if we were competing a lot and traveling, which can affect [them], we’re going to be ready for tomorrow, fresh energy and it’s a good opportunity for continuous growing."
What does this bright start mean? Nothing, if it doesn't lead to a good November, a better March and an even better summer.
It's nice for the U.S. to celebrate a 3-0 win over its biggest rival, but Mexico still holds the Gold Cup and the Concacaf Nations League trophies - both of the major regional tournaments men's national teams can win.
There is no trophy for best September-October extended FIFA international window. If there were, the U.S. would win it. The window has shown, however, that the expectation for the U.S. should be to wrest control of the regional trophies back and to push for even more non-mythical hardware.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winning with youth, Pochettino nearing perfect window for USMNT
