The United States Men's National Team (and its supporters) have immediately embraced a defiant new identity at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, all stemming from a single, blunt directive from their manager, Mauricio Pochettino. Heading into what's bound to be a physical matchup against Australia, USMNT's Sebastian Berhalter revealed Pochettino's six-word message that has resonated with an entire country.
As Berhalter explained, Pochettino delivered his comments to the team regarding the approach when games get physical, as The Athletic's USMNT writer Tom Bogert revealed.
"We're American. We don't take [expletive]," was Pochettino's message to the group, as Berhalter stated.
Although the United States Men's National Team has likely sought to make this a focal point at previous World Cups, Pochettino's squad showed that grit in a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay to begin its 2026 run.
USMNT players buying into Pochettino's strong message
The fanbase loved the message, and the players lived up to it during their World Cup opener. Even with a late two-goal lead, before Gio Reyna's late strike to make it 4-1, the group took a no-nonsense approach to any pushing, shoving or questionable tackles from its opponent. The young USMNT group remained aggressive both on and off the ball during the win, a trend fans hope continues in the two remaining group games against Australia and Turkey.
Pochettino's message hit home with fans so quickly that social media was flooded with support for the coach, with some even asking for "USMNT themed shirts with this slogan" on them to be made.
Although it's still early in the 2026 World Cup, the USMNT's stellar debut has the country buzzing and hoping to see this team make its deepest run in recent memory, potentially even rivaling its 2002 quarterfinals run, when it lost 1-0 to Germany.
Source: USA Today
