Mauricio Pochettino makes bold World Cup claim in first press conference as USMNT head coach

New United States Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino is pushing for the ultimate honor in his new role after outlining plans to win the World Cup .

The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager held his first press conference as USMNT head coach since being hired on Sept. 10 , and the 52-year-old was keen to state his intentions from the start . When speaking to reporters in New York, Pochettino said: "We need to believe we can win. Not just a game, but to win the World Cup.

"We want players to arrive on day one thinking big. 'Believe' for me is a word that is so powerful. You can have enormous talent, but in football, you need to believe. Believe that all is possible. If we find a way to believe all together, then we can achieve what we want."

The USMNT has never won the World Cup but did achieve third place in the inaugural competition held in 1930. In more recent history the USMNT has failed to make it past the final eight, reaching the quarterfinals in 2002.

• Mauricio Pochettino explains why he took USMNT job in first press conference
• Christian Pulisic tells Mauricio Pochettino first thing he needs to change at USMNT

The pressure has been heaped on the USMNT to succeed ever since the United States secured shared hosting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. will host the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, with the final taking place at MetLife Stadium, NJ.

U.S. Soccer had re-hired Gregg Berhalter as the man to lead them through the home World Cup, despite only reaching the Round of 16 stage in 2022. A poor performance at Copa America this past summer derailed plans to keep Berhalter in his role, and after assessing its options the federation agreed on terms with Pochettino.

Pochettino is highly respected in soccer and his ability to develop young players makes him a top candidate for the role. The 52-year-old turned a youthful Tottenham team into Champions League finalists in the past, and the USMNT fielded the youngest starting lineup at the previous World Cup.

While looking to win the World Cup is a clear indication that Pochettino rates the USMNT roster, it would be one of the all-time underdog stories if the U.S. lifted the trophy in New Jersey. But Pochettino is keen to establish an elite culture on international duty and boost confidence.

Pochettino declared his respect for new United States women's head coach Emma Hayes during his press conference, someone he crossed paths with during his time at Chelsea. Pochettino said that Hayes was the best coach he's seen in women's soccer and wants his team to take on the same identity.

USMNT fans can expect fast, attacking soccer with Pochettino as head coach, as he said when being asked about a style of play: "We are flexible. We’re a coaching staff that wants to play good football (soccer). To convince our fans to join us, the aesthetic is important. We want to play nice football, attacking football."