I coached the USMNT to World Cup quarter-finals – host status has handed Mauricio Pochettino a real challenge

Mauricio Pochettino has been handed the ambitious target of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in 2026.

The USMNT are hoping to put on a show on home soil when the iconic tournament comes around.

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But recent results have been poor and Pochettino will know he has a huge job on his hands.

Bruce Arena was at the helm the last time a US men’s team made the last eight of a World Cup in 2002.

And he thinks being handed automatic qualification as hosts could end up as a massive disadvantage.

“The US hasn’t played a difficult schedule over the last four years,” he told talkSPORT’s Hawksbee & Jacobs.

“Hopefully next year they get an opportunity to play some better clubs around the world that prime them for the World Cup.

“But, right now, even in CONCACAF, they’ve not been the best team.

“Canada was the best team in qualifying the last time. Mexico’s beaten them recently. So there’s a real challenge.

“And then in our sporting culture here, they’re competing with the NFL, MLB, the NBA, the NHL, the EPL.

“You know, EPL is the most popular football league in our country. So there’s a lot of challenges ahead and hopefully he’s up to the task.”

England recently appointed Thomas Tuchel – taking a rare decision to pick a foreign manager to head its national team.

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Arena knows the challenges Pochettino faces[/caption]

And Arena thinks Argentine tactician Pochettino will have to adjust to both US culture and life as an international manager if he is to succeed.

“I spent about an hour with Tuchel in 2017 when I visited Dortmund to see Christian Pulisic,” he explained when asked about England’s decision.

“And I found him to be an outstanding coach and person.

“Most countries around the world, and I would say a large percentage of the top football in countries in the world, have a domestic coach in charge of their national team.

“So this is a little different. You know, he has to get used to our culture, which is really unique from the rest of the world.

“And generally, coaches from outside countries aren’t as successful. So it’s going to be interesting to see.

“He’s a very qualified manager. You know that from his time at Tottenham and Chelsea and Southampton and all of that.

“So hopefully he’s up for the test.

“But it’s certainly going to be challenging because he doesn’t have the same pool of players you might have in other countries. So he has a lot of work ahead of him.

“International football is obviously different than club football and a really different job.

“So I’m interested to see how Pochettino does here because it’s challenging and it’s a different job and he’s going to be in a different culture. So it’ll be interesting to see.”

Pochettino and the US take on Jamaica Monday in the second leg of a CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final.

Thanks to a 1-0 win in the first leg, a draw would be enough to reach the last four and close in on a morale-boosting trophy.