Pochettino: Gold Cup final will prepare USA for World Cup pressure
The United States and Mexico will face off in an eighth Gold Cup final, less than a year before they co-host the World Cup with Canada.
Mauricio Pochettino believes Sunday's CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico will help the United States become accustomed to performing under pressure ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The USA and Mexico will face off at NRG Stadium in Houston, with the most prestigious international trophy in North and Central America at stake.
Holders Mexico are hoping to become the first 10-time winners of the competition, while the USA are eyeing their eighth title.
The USA missed out on the final of the 2023 tournament as El Tri beat Panama, but they have never failed to reach the showpiece match in successive editions.
They triumphed over Mexico in the 2007 and 2021 finals, while finishing as runners-up to their rivals in 1993, 1998, 2009, 2011 and 2019.
Pochettino's first nine months in charge of the USA have been up-and-down, with a humiliating Nations League defeat to Panama kickstarting a four-match losing streak earlier this year.
However, the former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea coach believes Sunday's final will serve as ideal preparation for a home World Cup next year.
"I think it's going to be maybe the last game that we are going to play under pressure and to play under pressure is what we need, because we already qualified for the World Cup," Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday.
"I think it's important that we have that difficult scenario to feel the pressure, to feel the stress.
"To arrive in the final of the Gold Cup was the objective. That was our first step and now our second step and third step is to win."
The USA's run to the final has come despite several big names missing the tournament.
While some regulars were committed to the Club World Cup, talisman Christian Pulisic took the controversial decision to skip the Gold Cup to rest, while his Milan team-mate Yunus Musah was also omitted from the squad.
Fulham's Antonee Robinson and Monaco's Folarin Balogun missed out due to injuries, while Mexico boss Javier Aguirre was able to name a far stronger squad.
Striker Santiago Gimenez, who plays alongside Pulisic and Musah at club level, hopes victory in Texas will give him bragging rights when he links up with the Rossoneri for pre-season.
"I'm really looking forward to it, because in the end, it's the North American clasico, and the last few games against the United States have been really tough," Gimenez said.
"Also, because I have Pulisic and Musah in the locker room, I want to go and make fun of them a little!
"I think the rivalry with the United States in football has always been there, and it's a wonderful thing, it's part of football. Every national team, every club has a clasico, it's rival to beat, and I think our rival to beat is the United States."
