ATLANTA — US football coach Mauricio Pochettino yesterday urged his team to play with freedom and not to fear the pressures and expectations that come with co-hosting this summer’s World Cup.

Hopes are high for Team USA, which co-hosts alongside Mexico and Canada, and boasts a strong squad of players from top European leagues including AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus star Weston McKennie.

Pochettino, speaking ahead of the USA’s friendly with Belgium on Saturday, encouraged his players to draw on the example of other American sports like the NFL and basketball, which he binged on when he was first appointed to the job in 2024.

“The thing that I really enjoyed was that all the athletes that were involved in different sports, they play free — trying to perform and to entertain,” he said.

“When you are free, you perform. When you feel happy, you perform. You don’t need to feel the pressure,” said Pochettino.

Pochettino drew a stark contrast with his own experiences as a player in the 2002 World Cup.

Argentina entered that tournament in Japan and South Korea among the favourites, but crashed out in the group stage.

“Pressure is a thing that, if you don’t deal perfectly with this, can be heavy,” said Pochettino.

“Argentine people felt the pressure... It was really an energy that was so heavy, and we didn’t deal with that.”