Pochettino: Gold Cup final defeat a ´massive lesson´ for United States - Soccer News

[ad_1] The US’ defeat to Mexico within the Gold Cup ultimate ought to function a “large lesson” forward of subsequent yr’s World Cup, believes Mauricio Pochettino.

Mexico gained essentially the most prestigious worldwide trophy in North and Central America for a record-extending tenth time on Sunday, recovering from 1-0 right down to win 2-1.

Chris Richards nodded the USA into an early lead, however Raul Jimenez equalised earlier than a diving header from Edson Alvarez clinched the trophy for El Tri.

Pochettino believes the sport delivered a harsh lesson for the USA, who performed the event with no swathe of key gamers, together with Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson.

“It’s a large lesson for us, I feel it’s priceless,” Pochettino stated at his post-match press convention.

“I feel it was an incredible event to understand the best way that we need to develop. It’s additionally a really, very painful night time. If you lose a trophy or lose a sport, it’s actually, actually painful. However a very powerful factor is to have our heads up.”

We’ll see you in September. pic.twitter.com/aPBVPZb3Kv

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Crew (@USMNT) July 7, 2025

A lot of the 70,000-strong crowd on the NRG Stadium – dwelling of the NFL’s Houston Texans – have been behind Mexico, with the Gold Cup struggling to seize the eye of USA supporters.

Pochettino says that should change forward of the World Cup, which begins on June 11, 2026. The USA will play two group-stage video games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

“I feel we'd like the folks. We'd like the followers. The followers have one yr to understand how essential they're in soccer,” Pochettino stated.

“It’s not solely via Instagram, social media or behind the staff, it’s essential for them to be right here and translate the vitality.”

The USA believed Jorge Sanchez dealt with the ball when falling inside his personal space within the second half, and Pochettino felt the pro-Mexico crowd was an element within the denial of a spot-kick.

“The reality was that if that occurred within the different field, for positive it’s a penalty,” Pochettino stated.

“The participant had a knee on the ground, then he pushed his hand over the ball. It’s not that the hand was already on the ground and the ball touched him.

“It was embarrassing to see that scenario and it’s a disgrace. I perceive that possibly with 70,000 folks, giving this penalty shouldn't be straightforward.”