Mauricio Pochettino's subtle tweaks make a big difference in his USMNT debut

AUSTIN, Texas — Throughout Mauricio Pochettino's first month or so in charge of the U.S. men's national team, he's talked repeatedly about what he sees as his most important mandate.

No, not just winning, though Pochettino enjoyed a triumphant debut on Saturday as the Americans snapped a four-game run without a victory by beating Panama 2-0 in Saturday's friendly here.

"We are here," the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham manager said again afterward, "To help the players."

It's an important distinction, and not mutually exclusive from the reason he was hired: to ensure the Americans don't squander their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture the country's imagination with a successful 2026 World Cup on home soil.

Pochettino didn't drastically alter the Americans' lineup for his first match. Six players who participated in the shocking Copa América group stage loss to this same Panamanian team in June started on Saturday. Six more were unavailable because of injury, including midfielder Weston McKennie, who Pochettino said could be available to play a role in Tuesday's contest in Mexico against blood rivals El Tri.

"I didn't feel [there were] too, too many changes" from previous U.S. squads, Panama manager Thomas Christiansen said. "He will need time to adapt his ideas to the team."

Pochettino has insisted since taking the job that the Americans have the talent to make a deep run in 2026. But to succeed on the biggest stage in sports two years from now, members of the USMNT must first develop an iron-clad belief in themselves. It's Pochettino's job to instill that swagger in them — a process that Saturday's result suggests has already begun.

Take the game-winning goal that Yunus Musah scored against Los