Mauricio Pochettino, manager of the United States, would like to see how his side rate against Mexico in the Gold Cup final on Sunday and says that it might be the last chance of the team to compete under real pressure before the FIFA World Cup next year.
Both teams have bypassed the challenging World Cup qualifying rounds that usually help to prepare teams at the largest event of football and are already guaranteed a place as hosts.
After the final, the US then organizes South Korea and Japan in a few international friendly competitions in September.
“It's good for us. It is good because I think it might be the last game that we will play under pressure, and to play under pressure is what we need, the team needs,” Pochettino told reporters on Saturday.
“Because we are qualified for the World Cup and I think all the games we are going to play are friendly games. Those are unofficial games and I think it is important that we don't have a difficult scenario, but feel the pressure, feel the stress.
“Because the World Cup is about feeling the pressure and feeling the stress. It's great to have this chance.”
The Gold Cup final is played at the NRG Stadium in Houston, just a few hours' drive from Central Texas, to which at least 43 people, including 15 children, are dead after flooding.
Pochettino started his press conference by paying tribute to the victims and added: “First of all, I want to send our thoughts to the people in Texas, the tragic situation and certainly the people who were affected.
“Our thoughts with all people there. Our solidarity with all the families that were hit for the flood.”
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