Since Pochettino became USMNT coach, the team still hasn't had a signature win. The Gold Cup final vs. Mexico is the last chance before the 2026 World Cup.

Gold Cup has suffered with game attendance, and some may assume it is due to the FIFA Club World Cup becoming a more attractive tournament in the U.S. this summer. The USMNT is one of the top teams in the Gold Cup,

That “connection between the fans and the team,” Pochettino said, “that is the connection that we [would] like to see in the World Cup. That connection that makes you fly.”