Tonight, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) will kick off its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign under the watchful eye of Mauricio Pochettino, a man whose tenure as USMNT head coach has already drawn a few complaints.
But before a ball can be kicked at the tournament, Pochettino is making it clear he’s not the biggest fan of the rules at this World Cup on home soil.
Why Mauricio Pochettino Has An Issue With the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The United States will suit up on Friday, June 12, to kickstart their 2026 World Cup campaign in a showdown against Paraguay just outside Los Angeles. The two teams will battle it out at SoFi Stadium for a 9 pm ET kickoff.
But before they can get their campaign on track, Pochettino is raising his objection to a rule FIFA has enforced at this iteration of the World Cup. To make it easier on the players, every game will feature three-minute hydration breaks in each half to “prioritise player welfare” throughout the tournament.
As such, referees are now bound to stop the game 22 minutes into each half to allow players to rehydrate, regardless of the venue.
When asked for his thoughts on this rule, Pochettino did not mince words.
“I don’t like it. I only like it when the conditions are extreme, but when the conditions are good, it is unnecessary,” the USMNT head coach told reporters.
Pochettino is not the only one opposed to the mandated hydration breaks. Fans, by and large, have accused FIFA of shoehorning hydration breaks into the games to generate more ad breaks and, therefore, more revenue.
In any case, players will stand to benefit from the break in play.
The United States will have to slay Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey to make it out of the group, with their first matchup set for June 12, Friday night, 9 pm ET. The game will air live on FOX in English and on Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish.
- The USMNT’s schedule is as follows:
- USMNT vs. Paraguay: June 12, 9 pm ET
- USMNT vs. Australia in Seattle: June 19, 3 pm ET
- USMNT vs. Turkey in Los Angeles: June 25, 10 pm ET
Zeroing in on their World Cup opener against Paraguay, look for the United States to have the edge in possession. Pochettino’s side will likely spend large chunks of the game moving the ball around, trying to break through the visitors. However, USMNT’s defense has also shown itself to be a porous unit, so expect this to be an affair where both sides find the net.
DON’T MISS: PFSN’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Simulator
While Chris Richards has pronounced himself fit for the game, his injury history is still a storyline to keep an eye on as the tournament progresses.
New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski expects the United States to make the final 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but if they start slow against Paraguay tonight, Pochettino’s side will be left with an uphill battle on home soil.
