U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino isn’t worried about the team’s friendly results ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Pochettino took the podium on Monday from Columbus ahead of the USMNT’s second and final friendly of the September window, a showdown with Japan on Tuesday night. The Argentine manager has received ample criticism following the program’s 2-0 loss to South Korea on Saturday, a result which marked the USMNT’s sixth overall defeat in 2025.

Despite out-shooting, out-possessing, and out-passing the South Koreans in Harrison, New Jersey, the Americans’ never recovered from a pair of first-half goals from the visitors. Pochettino, who later admitted that the USMNT were the better team on the day, urged the fanbase to support the team, and his roster and tactical decisions in the final nine months before the World Cup schedule begins.

He reiterated those wishes again on Monday, admitting that a collective unity between fans, coaches, and fans are needed for the program to deliver their best performances.

“Sometimes people want to talk only to analyze the result, and want to be negative,” Pochettino said in a press conference Monday. “And I think it’s a little bit (of) a shame. We need to be positive. We need to be all together. We have a plan. We have no worries. We have no worries about nothing. We stick with the plan. We are with the players, we are a very, very strong group now. When people talk, [they] need to think a little bit, that always there can be another way to assess and analyze.

“Being critical is one thing, because I like the critics, when you say things that are right,” he added. “But when it’s critics for critics, I think, it’s not damaging me, [you] are damaging your country and damaging your players. We need to be all in behind them to provide the best platform to perform.”

Pochettino’s hiring as USMNT boss brought plenty of excitement and eagerness for what’s to come, but the results haven’t come as often as many would’ve hoped. In 16 matches as USMNT boss, Pochettino has won only nine of them, suffering a disappointing CONCACAF Nations League exit last March before also losing in the Gold Cup Final to Mexico last July.

The USMNT have also lost friendlies against South Korea, Switzerland, and Turkey, all nations who are below the Americans in the World Rankings, being outscored 8-1 over that span. While the USMNT rosters have been mixed and matches between domestic and international-based players, Pochettino expects everyone to give their all for the program’s overall goals.

“You remember March, no? I think we all remember March,” Pochettino said. “That was a wake-up call because we needed to start a different process and different approach.”

“All that happened helped a little bit to realize that the most important thing is the national team,” he added. “It’s the federation. And this one. This is more important than any single name…We need to all work for this.”

No. 17-ranked Japan will pose another tough test for Pochettino and his players at Lower.com Field. Hajime Moriyasu’s men have already booked their place into next summer’s tournament and overall have only lost three times dating back to March 2023 (once in 2025).

Regardless of the opposition, Pochettino’s hopes for the USMNT are to win, but for them also to take another step towards the World Cup as a healthy and fit squad.

“Of course it’s important, tomorrow, I want to win,” Pochettino said. “I want to win. But the most important is to arrive [at the World Cup] in a very good condition and win the first game, the second game, the third game, go onto the next round, and go on to win. For sure, no one is going to remember this press conference if that happens.”