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Jurgen Klopp has delivered a bold admission about the United States men\u2019s national team (USMNT) after watching them at the FIFA World Cup. The German tactician has been fully swept up by the host nation\u2019s early displays on home soil while reporting on the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a pundit.<\/p>\n
Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s side came into the tournament with low expectations on their shoulders, but have turned the story around the country on its head. Wins over Paraguay and Australia have thrilled the nation, and the Americans cruised through Group D and into the round of 32.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/template><\/p>\n Jurgen Klopp described the current group of players as the best the country has ever produced. The former Borussia Dortmund<\/a> coach told ESPN that the level of the leagues the squad now plays in is evidence of the team\u2019s evolution (via HITC<\/a>):<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n \u201cIt is the best team USA has ever had. It is. You look where the players play. Look, the boys, you have a striker who plays in France, played in England, blah, blah, blah.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “You have a winger who plays everywhere in Pulisic. The last line [defenders], plays or played in the Premier League, midfield plays or played in the Premier League or in Italy; you never had a team like that. So that\u2019s number one.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Klopp reserved warm praise for USMNT head coach Pochettino, but warned that sterner tests lie ahead as the knockout rounds intensify:<\/p>\n “And a sensational coach with Maur\u00edcio. Yeah, you have a good team. The pressure will, I don\u2019t want to jinx it, but the pressure will grow. So it\u2019s great right now in all this kind of thing. USA, really good. Canada, good. Mexico, good. They\u2019re all very important for the tournament.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n While Klopp was full of praise for the Americans, Pochettino had a much cooler exchange with the media after his side’s final group game. Having already clinched top spot in the group, the USMNT lost 3-2 to Turkiye at SoFi Stadium, conceding a stoppage-time winner to seal the game.<\/p>\n When asked by reporters if the loss had sapped his team\u2019s momentum going into the round of 32, Pochettino grew tetchy. The former Chelsea<\/a> and Tottenham<\/a> boss was particularly hurt that no one had recognized his side\u2019s achievement in winning a difficult FIFA World Cup group (via ESPN<\/a>):<\/p>\n “The mood is like we [are going] home tonight and Turkiye is staying. I need to [remind] you and everyone that we won the group. Sorry guys, we won.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The USMNT will now focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina. The FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash gives Pochettino’s men the opportunity to prove Klopp’s lofty assessment with a deep run on home soil.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Pochettino responds to criticism after USMNT loses to Turkiye in FIFA World Cup group stage<\/h2>\n