The arrival of Lionel Messi has changed the game in the United States and Pochettino is keen to capitalize on the boost in football publicity.
When Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, it was clear that his arrival had the potential to become a milestone for football in the United States.
The deal was helped by Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham – who made his own momentous move to MLS in 2007 – and has led to a huge increase in interest in American football. Messi's arrival came ahead of an important period for the sport, with the United States set to host the World Cup in 2026.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino was appointed with the express aim of preparing a team to compete with the world's best in the summer of 2026 and has made it clear that the Messi 'project' can help boost the game in the run-up to the summer of 2026. the tournament.
After a recent 3-1 win over Venezuela, Pochettino said: “It's an incredible project. How lucky Miami and the MLS are to have Leo Messi. He is the best player in the world, an eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, and it is a spectacle to watch him play. It is a privilege for the United States to have him here.”
Can Lionel Messi change the game in the United States?
Despite all the progress made in recent years, there is still a long way to go before the United States can rank among the top countries in the world in soccer. The national team was embarrassingly knocked out of the group stages at last year's Copa America and MLS is still a step below the top European leagues.
But there has been a notable rise in standards, especially in the level of play in the MLS. American teams have won the last two editions of the MLS-Liga MX Leagues Cup and have reached the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in four of the past five seasons. Pochettino will hope Messi's arrival can help raise the level of competition in the US and, in the long term, increase interest in the sport across the country.
“The work Inter Miami did to get him here deserves recognition,” Pochettino explained. “In other countries we don't face this kind of competition, but here, with a population of 300 million, there is a huge opportunity for football to grow and attract more people. We are working to accelerate that process.”
The much-changed USMNT concludes January camp on Wednesday with a friendly against Costa Rica. The next competitive match for Pochettino's side comes during the March international break, when USMNT take on Panama in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Comments