(Photo by Andrew Wevers/USSF/Getty Images)

Mauricio Pochettino Under Fire for Sending Mixed Signals to USMNT Fans

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Marcelo Cartaxo | Last updated Oct 16, 2025 5:09 PM ET

Herculez Gomez is unhappy with Mauricio Pochettino’s message to USMNT fans after the 1–1 draw against Ecuador in the friendly match.

Both October friendlies are done, and players are heading back to their clubs. The USMNT faced Ecuador and Australia — drawing with the South Americans and defeating the Australians — leaving fans feeling confident.

While the match against Ecuador ended in a draw, many supporters and analysts were impressed by the level of competitiveness the USMNT showed. Historically, it’s always a tough game between Ecuador and the U.S., with five wins for each side and six draws.

After the game, manager Mauricio Pochettino took to social media and posted an Instagram Story showing a whiteboard that read: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Former USMNT player Herculez Gomez questioned what Pochettino meant by that in the latest episode of the Men in Blazers podcast.

"Postgame, Mauricio Pochettino said, ‘I’m just so glad we’re not talking about effort. We’re talking about football. We’re talking about tactics.’ And then, eight hours later, he puts this on his Instagram story," Gomez said.

"But you just sat there and told us that culture wasn’t what we should be talking about — we should be talking about what we see on the field," he added. "Now you’re telling us it’s culture over tactics."

COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO - OCTOBER 14: Head coach Mauricio Pochettino of the United States enters the field of play and greets fans during an international friendly match between the United States and Australia at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on October 14, 2025 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

Both friendlies added another layer to the USMNT’s potential heading into the 2026 World Cup. Team captain and star player Christian Pulisic came off the bench in the first game and was subbed out early in the second against Australia after just 28 minutes.

Pulisic picked up a hamstring injury with the USMNT and will now return to Milan for treatment, hoping to regain fitness for upcoming Serie A fixtures — where he was recently named Player of the Month.

USMNT’s Next Fixtures in November

In about a month, Mauricio Pochettino will call up a new squad for November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay. Some players not called up for October’s matches — including Josh Sargent, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, Ricardo Pepi, and Gio Reyna — could feature in the next set of games.

This doesn’t mean those left out are excluded from the final World Cup roster. Like many national team coaches, Pochettino is experimenting and will continue to do so until the final friendlies before the big tournament.

While culture may “beat tactics for breakfast,” Pochettino seems to be bringing a bit of his own culture to the USMNT.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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