The U.S. Men’s National Team and head coach Mauricio Pochettino have come under major scrutiny following their losses to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League Finals - not least from ex-players.
Among those to lay into the USMNT after their duo of dismal performances was ex-goalkeeper Tim Howard. The former Manchester United and Everton star particularly took issue with a post-game comment by Pochettino after his side secured a fourth-place finish on Sunday following their 2-1 loss to Canada.
“I think we have time. I prefer that what happened today, happened today and not in one year's time,” the Argentine said, referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Howard, however, disagreed with Pochettino’s take, highlighting the fact that aside from the upcoming Gold Cup, the USMNT had no more competitive games before the World Cup.
“I tend to disagree with him a little bit because here's the thing, this group of players got a manager sacked (in reference to Pochettino’s predecessor Gregg Berhalter), lost three to the last four to Panama, have an abysmal showing in the Nation's League. Abysmal. To finish fourth is a crime,” Howard told fellow USMNT veteran Landon Donovan on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast.
Preempting responses to his sacking comment from listeners and players, Howard also admitted, “I've gotten coaches sacked as well. I've been a part of groups. You've been a part of groups, but you don't perform well enough. Your teammates don't perform well enough and you get your coaches sacked. It sucks.”
What’s more, Howard believes that with the Nation’s League in the rearview mirror, there is even more pressure on the USMNT to win the Gold Cup.
“I tell you what, if you thought all eyes were going to be on the Gold Cup, by God, they have to win. They have to win the Gold Cup,” he said. And as for Pochettino’s assurance that his side has time, Howard noted that once the Gold Cup is over, “I think there's probably like another month, month and a half in terms of time. After that, there's no more competitive games, simply put.”
As for the team’s performance, Howard also had his issues, explaining that he believes “there's a competitive element that's missing with this team.” He noted that while the team has talent, something he thinks “we talk about it all the time,” the simple fact is that in his opinion, “The competitive nature, the leadership. That's a big issue for this team.”
Furthering this point, Howard cited their lack of aggression in defeat, commenting that it should be a case of: “If we're going to get beat, you're going to walk off the field limping. That's the exchange.
“We don't get beat and you cruise ain't how it works. If we're going to get beat, you're going to earn it. And you're actually going to be desperate to get off the field.”
It is now down to Pochettino’s side to prove the likes of Howard and Donovan wrong when they take on Turkey and Switzerland in their last friendlies before the Gold Cup.
