Sleepless Nights, Group Chats and Big Decisions: Inside Poch’s Roster Selection

Sleepless Nights, Group Chats and Big Decisions: Inside Poch’s Roster Selection

Author: US Soccer | Cumulus Podcast Network May 27, 2026 Duration: 26:00
It’s finally here! This week, the US Men’s National Team World Cup roster was officially announced. These 26 players will carry the hopes and dreams of a nation. On this episode U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, host Meghan Klingenberg sits down with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino to talk about how it felt to tell the players they made the team, what goes into building and roster, and what characteristics knit this group together. And that’s not all! Kling also introduces a new segment all about USMNT fandom, history, and supporter lore. It’s called ‘Soccer Bestie’.  1:57 – Mauricio join the show  4:02 – How Mauricio shared the news with players  5:43 – Sleepless nights  8:41 – One word to describe the team 12:00 – The Soccer Bestie segment  20:42 – Winning Starts at Home with Ali Hall  23:14 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts    Coming soon to Los Angeles is U.S. Soccer House presented by Bank of America, a fan-first space where fans of all ages can gather, celebrate, and support the U.S. Men’s National Team. Located one block from the shores of Venice Beach, the U.S. Soccer House presented by Bank of America will bring the energy of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to life from June 11-26. Access is free for all U.S. Soccer Insiders. Register to be an Insider today and learn more here.  Host: Meghan Klingenberg  Guests: Mauricio Pochettino, Ingrid Nilsen  Producer: Matthew Nelson  To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Each week, the U.S. Soccer Podcast opens up a direct line to the individuals shaping the sport across the country. Host David Gass guides these Wednesday conversations, which are less about formal interviews and more about genuine discussions with coaches, staff, and players from every corner of the American game. You’ll hear from figures connected to the senior national teams, of course, but the dialogue consistently extends to the youth setups and the broader ecosystem dedicated to development. This approach provides a unique, ground-level perspective on the efforts to advance soccer in the United States. These are honest and often uplifting chats that go beyond scores and tactics to reveal the personal stories and professional philosophies driving progress. Tuning into this podcast means getting a clearer sense of the people behind the programs, from emerging talents to the seasoned minds guiding them. It’s an ongoing series of conversations that collectively map out the present and future of U.S. soccer, delivered through a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the Cumulus Podcast Network with support from Henkel.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

U.S. Soccer Podcast
Podcast Episodes
100 Days Until the World Cup with Mauricio Pochettino [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:39
There’s now less than 100 days to go until the World Cup! In this episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, host Meghan Klingenberg catches up with US men’s national team head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, to…
What Eddie Pope  learned at 3 World Cups [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:42
Eddie Pope was part of iconic 2002 World Cup team that made a run to the quarterfinals – the best men’s team showing of the modern era. But he was also a part of the 1998 team that was dumped out of the group stages with…
Inside the mind of NWSL coach of the year Bev Yanez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:31
As a player, Bev Yanez was a force. The forward represented teams in Finland, Japan and was a two-time NWSL Shield winner with the Seattle Reign. After Bev’s playing career ended, she started coaching – first as an assis…
Meet new USWNT stars Riley Jackson and Maddie Dahlien [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:07
This time on the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, we’re getting to know rising USWNT stars Maddie Dahlien and Riley Jackson. The pair both gained their first caps in the January camp and host Meghan Klingenberg c…
Why Ally Sentnor wants to be the first USWNT player in space [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:03
In this episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, USWNT dynamo Ally Sentnor shares her views on everything from the pressures of being in the spotlight from a young age, coming through the University of Nor…
Christen Press and I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:56
Christen Press and Meghan Klingenberg go way back. Before World Cup glory in 2015, the pair were Olympic alternates and young pros trying to carve out a career in the Swedish women’s league. In this wide-ranging intervie…
Meet the American with more World Cup goals than Pele [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:25
Alessandro Canale contains multitudes. The beach soccer star has played in 4 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cups, scored 12 World Cup goals, and made over 100 appearances for team USA. But he balances beach soccer with an actin…
Cat Macario talks making history, overcoming injury, and self-worth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:47
Cat Macario is on a hot streak for the USWNT: The forward has scored 3 goals in her last two national team appearances. In this feature interview for the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, Macario discusses her rec…
Offseason Antics with Kelli Hubly | U.S. Soccer Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:54
It’s the offseason for the National Women’s Soccer League, and before the 2026 NWSL season kickoff in February, we catch up with league veteran Kelly Hubly. The Bay FC defender chats with former teammate Meghan Klingenbe…