Bruce Arena, one of the most accomplished coaches in U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) history, has expressed deep concerns about the current state of the squad under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Speaking on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast alongside Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, Arena didn’t hold back his thoughts, criticizing the decision to hire a foreign coach and questioning the team’s recent performances.
Arena, who coached the USMNT in two separate stints, emphasized the importance of having a domestic coach who understands the nuances of American soccer. “If you look at every national team in the world, the coach is usually a domestic coach,” he said. “When you have coaches that don’t know our culture, our environment, our players—it’s hard.”
While Arena acknowledged Pochettino’s credentials, he pointed out the fundamental differences between international and club football. “I’m sure our coach is a very good coach,” Arena said, “but coaching international football is different than club football. It’s a completely different job.”
He went further, noting that a national team coach needs to be fully immersed in the country’s soccer culture. “You need to know the animals you’re coaching, and we’re lacking that,” Arena said. “If you’re an American coaching a U.S. team, you know the culture, the pride, and how important the national team is.”
Pochettino, a respected figure with a strong resume in club football—including spells at Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain—has faced early criticism from U.S. fans and analysts alike for the team’s underwhelming performances. Arena specifically pointed to losses against Panama and Canada as troubling signs. “I’m shocked we can’t beat Panama and Canada. It was shocking to me,” he said.
With just over a year left before the World Cup, Arena urged urgency. “I don’t want to be disrespectful. I want them to do great. But time is running out—they’ve got to get going.”
Arena’s resume includes leading the U.S. to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals and winning multiple Gold Cups. However, his second stint ended in disappointment, failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup following a crushing loss to Trinidad & Tobago.
His recent remarks reflect broader concerns not just about results, but about the identity, leadership, and cultural understanding that he believes are essential for USMNT success—qualities he feels are currently lacking under Mauricio Pochettino’s leadership.
