US coach Pochettino ignites World Cup ambition at Mariners showcase

On a Friday evening at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, the United States national football team, guided by 54‑year‑old head coach Mauricio Pochettino, took the mound for a pre‑World Cup baseball exhibition with the Seattle Mariners, delivering a loud declaration: “Let’s win the World Cup!”. The evening featured a flag parade, a trident on the field, flamethrowers and pulsing music, turning the baseball match into a showpiece ahead of the United States’ Fourth of July celebrations. The spectacle was staged to welcome the US national team, the Rode Duivels’ next World Cup opponent, as they prepared for their upcoming clash. The American squad arrived on the field like celebrities, with Pochettino singled out for cheers and banners reading “Pochettino for president”. Fans roared as the coach, dressed in a modified uniform, stepped onto the diamond. Pochettino delivered the ceremonial first pitch, a moment the article likened to a football kickoff, and the ball landed cleanly on target. His successful throw set the tone for the event’s celebratory atmosphere.

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After the pitch, the team gathered for a selfie with Mariners players, and when Pochettino and midfielder Cristian Roldan held a microphone, they reiterated their ambition. “Let’s win the World Cup!” they declared. Speaking after the United States’ recent 2‑1 victory over Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Pochettino adopted a more measured tone about qualification odds. “We have seen a few minutes of their previous match while driving to the hotel. Rode Duivels is a team full of quality,” he said. He also recalled a March friendly against Belgium, stating that even before the tournament began he regarded the Belgians as one of the contenders. “For me they were already candidates to win the tournament before the World Cup started, and after the matches I have seen, I still think so,” the Argentine coach explained.

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The baseball contest ended in a 0‑2 defeat for the Seattle Mariners. The event was reported by sports journalist Emma Van Avermaet of on 4 July 2026.