Mauricio Pochettino tried to steal USMNT World Cup kit in front of stunned former Chelsea manager

It took more than two years to create the bold 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 and Antonee Robinson, the ex-Tottenham and Chelsea leader couldn’t contain himself.

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Poch had sneak peak at World Cup kit

“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.

USMNT’s official 2026 World Cup roster is set to be announced on Tuesday in New York.

A potential final 26 was leaked last weekend, while former USA and Premier League goal keeper Brad Friedel has made a bold starting XI prediction.

“(Folarin) Balogun, I would start as the nine,” Friedel exclusively told talkSPORT.

“(Christian) Pulisic on one side, (Timothy) Weah on the other. I would play Weah as a winger, not as a right back.

Pochettino is preparing his newly picked USMNT roster for two pre-World Cup friendlies versus Senegal (May 31) and Germany (June 6), which set up a Group D opener vs Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

A 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.

Bold ‘Stripes’ and sleek ‘Stars’ have been hits

“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.’

US Soccer

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“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.”

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.

Biggest moment still to come for US Soccer

On Tuesday, the ‘Men’s Nike USMNT 2026 Christian Pulisic Stars Stadium Jersey’ was available for $155, but sold out in medium and double extra-large sizes.

Towers’ past work with Major League Soccer on club launches prepared her for the moment.

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US Soccer

But the initial reaction to the ‘Stars’ and ‘Stripes’ was an entirely different experience.

“Honestly, huge sigh of relief, right?” Towers said.

“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.”

Emotional payoff after years of hard work

The real breakthrough will be watching USMNT in its World Cup opener.

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 with another former Chelsea manager watching.

“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.”