Mauricio Pochettino Suffers First Defeat as U.S. Manager in 2-0 Loss to Mexico

Mauricio Pochettino experienced his first setback as manager of the United States, losing 2-0 to Mexico in a friendly at Estadio Akron, near Guadalajara. The former Chelsea boss, who had secured a 2-0 victory over Panama in his debut, admitted his team was outplayed.

“It wasn’t a great performance, but this type of game is perfect for us to learn,” Pochettino said. “Mexico were a little bit better and fully deserved the victory. But for us, it is a process.”

Mexico’s Raul Jimenez opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick midway through the first half, while Cesar Huerta added a second to secure the win for the hosts. Mexico, having faced criticism after a 2-2 draw against Valencia, earned a morale-boosting victory.

The U.S. team, missing key players such as Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, and Weston McKennie, struggled offensively, managing just one shot on target. The defeat ended the U.S.’s seven-match unbeaten streak against Mexico.

The match also marked an emotional farewell for Mexico’s most-capped player, Andres Guardado, who received a standing ovation after being substituted in the 19th minute, ending his international career with 182 caps.