Mauricio Pochettino almost stole sold-out USA kit in front of stunned Emma Hayes
More than two years were devoted to creating the USA kits that will soon take over a 2026 World Cup on home soil.
When United States Men’s National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino finally saw the jerseys that would bear the names of Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, the ex-Tottenham and Chelsea leader couldn’t contain himself.
Poch and Emma Hayes had sneak peak
“Mauricio threatened to steal the dark (Stars) kit. That’s how much he loved it,” Maribeth Towers, US Soccer vice president of consumer products, exclusively told talkSPORT.
Pochettino is currently preparing his newly picked USMNT roster for two pre-World Cup friendlies versus Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta, while being linked in daily rumors to a Tottenham return.
One year ago, Pochettino and USWNT coach Emma Hayes were given a sneak peek at the first samples of what would become the USA’s ‘Stars’ and ‘Stripes’ kits, during a meeting at the Nike campus in Portland, Oregon.
The 54-year-old Pochettino suddenly turned into a little kid, even after being told that the samples he was viewing weren’t the final versions of the jerseys.
“Both Emma and Mauricio reacted so positively,” Towers said.
“The Nike team, if it’s your baby and you’ve created this kit, you’re standing there going, ‘Oh god, I really hope they like it.’
“Mauricio jokingly went up to the mannequin and was starting to take it off the mannequin. Like, ‘I want to take this home.’
“I literally saw both their reactions and they could not have been more pleased.”
Bold ‘Stripes’ and sleek ‘Stars’ are sold-out hits
The USA coaches weren’t the only ones.
Days after the official unveiling, the ‘Men’s Nike USMNT 2026 Stripes Match Jersey’ selling for $180 on the US Soccer site was sold out in five sizes.
The ‘Men’s Nike USMNT 2026 Christian Pulisic Stars Stadium Jersey’ was available for $155 but sold out as of Friday morning in medium, large and extra large sizes.
Towers’ past work with Major League Soccer on club launches prepared her for the moment.
But the initial reaction to the ‘Stars’ and ‘Stripes’ has been an entirely different experience.
“Honestly, huge sigh of relief, right?” Towers said.
Biggest moment still to come
“We started this process with Nike over two and a half years ago. And especially for a moment that has this much meaning for the federation, for the country, for the players.
“We waited with bated breath to see what the reaction was, and it has been phenomenal.”
USMNT and Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards is less than 100 days away from fulfilling a lifelong dream that started in Birmingham, Alabama.
“My goal in life is to be the reason why somebody picks up a soccer ball,” Richards exclusively told talkSPORT.
“If us as a collective, if we’re able to give good enough performances — performances that make America proud but also performances that allow a kid to pick up a soccer ball one day — then it’s a successful one.”
Richards is set to wrap his 6ft 3in frame in the new ‘Stars’ and ‘Stripes’ kits, and the best moment for Towers and her team is still to come.
Emotional payoff after years of hard work
The real breakthrough will be watching the USMNT vs Paraguay in a Group D World Cup match on June 12 in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium.
Then realizing that the soccer world — fans and supporters across the globe, glued to TVs in bars, pubs, homes and street parties — is staring at the same jersey that an over-excited Pochettino almost ripped off a mannequin.
“Even as we saw it unveiled officially, it was just hard to describe and put into words,” Towers said.
“I’m guessing that I’m sitting in the stands doing the same thing, and I guarantee you tears will be involved.”
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