Mauricio Pochettino Disappointed With USMNT Supporters Despite Gold Cup Triumph
The 2025 Gold Cup has suffered with game attendance, and some may assume it is due to the FIFA Club World Cup becoming a more attractive tournament in the U.S. this summer.
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The USMNT is one of the top teams in the Gold Cup, but the stadiums they've played in have left a lot to be desired. The stadium the USMNT has played in during this Gold Cup has not been sold out until the semifinal.
The USMNT took on Guatemala at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri, but the game felt like an away game for Team USA. Mauricio Pochettino was seen impressed with the Guatemala supporters, who were the majority at the Energizer Park.
Despite the win over Guatemala, Pochettino felt disappointed with the USMNT support both in the stadium and throughout the Gold Cup.
Pochettino's Commnets on the USMNT Support
Pochettino praised the Guatemala fans after the USMNT's 2-1 win over Guatemala in the Gold Cup semifinal. The head coach spoke about how USMNT supporters should learn from the passion of Guatemala fans base and others.
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Mauricio Pochettino: "Wow. Unbelievable. That is football. That connection (between fans and team) is what we will like at the World Cup. That is culture. What we need to learn in this country."
Doug McIntyre from Fox Sports reports that Pochettino described the atmosphere at the Energizer Park vs Guatemala as an 'away match' and that it is good for his players.
The Gold Cup Final against Mexico is expected to be similar to the semifinal, where the UMSNT will have fewer supporters than the opponent. Mexico's fan base is one of the biggest in world soccer, and their popularity in the U.S. is huge as well.
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This perception is backed by attendance statistics for the USMNT games in the Gold Cup this summer have been lower than expected.
USMNT's support in the 2025 Gold Cup
USA vs Trinidad & Tobago - 12,610 attendance (PayPal Park / 18,000 capacity)
USA vs Saudi Arabia - 11,727 attendance (Q2 Stadium / 20,500 capacity)
USA vs Haiti - 20,918 attendance (AT&T Stadium / 80,000 capacity)
USA vs Costa Rica - 32,289 attendance (U.S. Bank Stadium / 73,000 capacity)
Mexico has also failed to bring desirable high attendance rates in their Gold Cup matches, but the numbers are still considerably higher than USMNT games.
Mexico vs Honduras had Levi's Stadium sold out, a stadium with a capacity between 68,500 to 75,000.
The NRG Stadium in Houston has a capacity of 72,200, where Mexico has been close to selling out in the past.
The last time Mexico played at the NRG Stadium was in the 2024 Copa America match against Jamaica. The fan attendance for the game against Jamaica was 53,763.
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That number is expected to increase on Sunday as the biggest game of the region is the USA vs Mexico in a Gold Cup Final.
Related: Donovan Warns Pulisic & USMNT Absentees With Diego Luna's Example- "Be Careful"
Related: Tim Ream In Deep Water For Controversial Take On USMNT Support
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
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