Team USA’s Foreign-Born World Cup Coach Credits ‘Miracle On Ice’ For Helping Him Click With Americans

As the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) prepares for its 12th World Cup appearance, its foreign-born head coach turned to a popular American underdog moment to fully embrace the American sports culture. 

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was born and raised in Murphy, Argentina, was hired by Team USA in September 2024 following the firing of coach Gregg Berhalter. Pochettino was highly sought after, and the United States hoped that the hire could push the USMNT to the next level.

In preparation for the 2026 World Cup, Scott Goodwin, a donor and supporter of the USMNT, introduced Pochettino to the “Miracle on Ice” as well as the film adaptation “Miracle.” Pochettino had never heard of the film or iconic moment before Goodwin spoke to him.

“I am not the guy that [follows] hockey,” Pochettino explained in his interview with Fox Sports. 

“You have to watch this movie. I think it’s really going to help you understand American sports culture,” Goodwin told Fox Sports in an interview. “It’ll help him connect with the team.”

After watching the well-known film, Pochettino said he walked away with a handful of insights he can apply to the USMNT in its quest for a trophy in 2026. The first thing Pochettino noticed was the passion behind American sports. 

“That was a perfect film for me to watch,” Pochettino said. “I said we need more passion. How are we going to relate to our players?”

During the construction of the 2026 USMNT roster, another useful concept from the film found its way into Pochettino’s coaching philosophy.

“In football, you cannot win only because [of] one,” he stated. “We were talking [about] good players, ‘the right players,’ we need the right players.”

Similar to the national hockey team in 1980, the United States is seen as a long shot to win the tournament. Mike Eruzione, the player responsible for the game-winning goal against the Soviet Union 46 years ago, explained his support for Pochettino using the same notions that won them gold.

“Mauricio, he embraced what our team did. It’s a great message to his team, because nobody expects this team to win,” Eruzione said. “It was just like us in 1980. If it happened then, it could happen again.” 

Despite the drastic differences in sport, Pochettino will never forget the story of the “Miracle on Ice,” and it will forever leave a lasting impression for as long as he coaches the United States. 

“The love to play for your national team, it’s because you really love, you play for bigger things,” he insisted. “That film [made] me, you know, believe that this is the way we need to be like in this national team.”