When U.S. Men's National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino met President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, the conversation took an unexpected turn. The Argentine manager recently revealed on the "Stick To Football" podcast that Trump asked him a bold question: "Do you think, coach, that we can win?"

Pochettino didn't shy away from the challenge. When pressed by podcast host and former Manchester United star Gary Neville about whether he truly believes the U.S. can lift the trophy on home soil, the coach's response was emphatic: "Why not? Why not?"

"It's all about to believe," Pochettino argued, drawing inspiration from underdog stories in World Cup history. He pointed to Morocco's stunning run to the semifinals in Qatar 2022 and South Korea's remarkable journey to the semifinals in 2002 as proof that anything is possible in football.

The U.S. men's team currently sits at 16th in the FIFA world rankings and has consistently reached the round of 16 in the 2010, 2014, and 2022 World Cups. With the tournament coming to North America in 2026, Pochettino's confidence could be exactly what the squad needs to make a deeper run.

The exchange took place in December in Washington, D.C., during an event where Trump was controversially awarded FIFA's inaugural Peace Prize. For American soccer fans, Pochettino's bold claim is a rallying cry—a reminder that on home soil, with belief and preparation, the Stars and Stripes could write their own Cinderella story.