When Mauricio Pochettino suggested in March that the USA could be potential winners of this summer's World Cup, few could believe him. Despite having participated in nine of the last ten World Cups, including this one, the USA have only reached the quarter-finals once in this period, reaching that stage in 2002. Their best appearance remains their semi-final appearance in the first World Cup in 1930.
But this US team, led by former Tottenham coach Pochettino, not only secured their place in the World Cup qualifiers with two wins in two games, but also captivated attention with attacking and exciting football. Football and non-football fans in the US are starting to ask the same question: "Why not us?"
Pochettino managed to unify US fans and players in the belief that they can go far in this World Cup. In the minutes after the USA's 2-0 victory over Australia in their second Group D game in Seattle, Pochettino had to pause during a pitchside interview as American fans gave him a chorus of applause. Before the tournament, there was uncertainty regarding the Argentine coach, especially since his commitment to the national team only extended until the end of this World Cup.
With the USA's victory over Australia, which followed a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, he now appears to have almost universal support, having formed a team that mixes promising young talent with established players in Europe's top leagues - a team that looks capable of defying the odds in the coming weeks. Pochettino brought belief and aggression, striving to eliminate the mentality that the USA are World Cup underdogs.
On the walls of the 54-year-old coach's makeshift office in the team hotel are the words "why not us?", along with other quotes such as "believe, work, compete" and "now it's our turn!" This mentality is evident in the players and, in the two games already played, they played with confidence. "I think he brings that South American spirit that we've been missing," said US striker Tim Weah. "We've always been the good guys, so now it's good to be on the other side and be a little more aggressive. It's fun. Coach Poch is an incredible coach."
Teams where fans and players are aligned in their beliefs can be particularly dangerous, and it was evident after the victory over Australia how connected the two are. The team, led by Pochettino, walked around the Seattle Stadium pitch applauding the fans, who sang in unison John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" - a song that looks set to become the USA's unofficial victory song. The streets of downtown Seattle were filled with thousands of celebrating supporters, who continued to chant Pochettino's name. "He's our Braveheart," said one supporter. "He is the leader who is willing to take us through the struggle and pain to the end. He has brought us a very good era. He doesn't complicate things and offers a very straightforward game to watch."
Another added: "I've been a Tottenham fan for 16 years and it was our best time with him at the helm. The day he took over the US national team was a dream come true for me, and look at us now, he wants to win!" In Los Angeles, where the USA play Turkey in their final group game (Friday, 03:00 BST), supporters were equally excited about Pochettino's impact. "It seems like even people here who aren't big football fans are now behind the team, so it's really cool," said an American Arsenal fan, unconcerned about Pochettino's previous links to rivals Tottenham. "I feel like everything Pochettino has done is quite positive. I like him. I think he's on his way out after this and that hurts, though."
Another US fan praised the winning mentality Pochettino brought, saying: "I think it's good to have a coach like this who comes in without American policies. He comes in and just wants to win. Why can't we win? Why not us?" Will Pochettino stay and build a legacy in the US? US fans love Pochettino and the feeling, it seems, has become mutual. "Argentina have incredible fans, but I think we are matching them," said Pochettino after the victory over Australia. His contract expires at the end of this World Cup and there is widespread expectation that he will leave, having been linked with a return to club management in Europe. But perhaps the USA's start to this World Cup, combined with their incredible support for Pochettino, has changed things. "Right now we are focused on the World Cup. Then, if we want to stay, we will have months to talk, or days or weeks. Because there are four years until the next World Cup," he said in a roundtable interview with journalists this week. He added: "For me, that's the most important legacy, the connection between the national team and the fans. Of course we want to win. But that's the legacy we need. Why not be part of that?