Pochettino: Gold Cup final defeat a 'massive lesson' for United States
Mauricio Pochettino's United States were beaten 2-1 by Mexico in the Gold Cup final, surrendering an early lead at NRG Stadium in Houston.
The United States' defeat to Mexico in the Gold Cup final should serve as a "massive lesson" ahead of next year's World Cup, believes Mauricio Pochettino.
Mexico won the most prestigious international trophy in North and Central America for a record-extending 10th time on Sunday, recovering from 1-0 down to win 2-1.
Chris Richards nodded the USA into an early lead, but Raul Jimenez equalised before a diving header from Edson Alvarez clinched the trophy for El Tri.
Pochettino believes the game delivered a harsh lesson for the USA, who played the tournament without a swathe of key players, including Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson.
"It's a massive lesson for us, I think it's priceless," Pochettino said at his post-match press conference.
"I think it was an amazing tournament to realise the way that we want to grow. It's also a very, very painful night. When you lose a trophy or lose a game, it's really, really painful. But the most important thing is to have our heads up."
Most of the 70,000-strong crowd at the NRG Stadium – home of the NFL's Houston Texans – were behind Mexico, with the Gold Cup struggling to capture the attention of USA supporters.
Pochettino says that needs to change ahead of the World Cup, which begins on June 11, 2026. The USA will play two group-stage games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
"I think we need the people. We need the fans. The fans have one year to realise how important they are in soccer," Pochettino said.
"It's not only through Instagram, social media or behind the team, it's important for them to be here and translate the energy."
The USA believed Jorge Sanchez handled the ball when falling inside his own area in the second half, and Pochettino felt the pro-Mexico crowd was a factor in the denial of a spot-kick.
"The truth was that if that happened in the other box, for sure it's a penalty," Pochettino said.
"The player had a knee on the floor, then he pushed his hand over the ball. It's not that the hand was already on the floor and the ball touched him.
"It was embarrassing to see that situation and it's a shame. I understand that maybe with 70,000 people, giving this penalty is not easy."
USA defender Chris Richards was less diplomatic.
"Homie palmed the ball like Shaq in the box," Richards said, referencing former NBA superstar big man Shaquille O'Neal.
"That's CONCACAF for you – they hate us. But we have to just keep moving with it."
