Have you ever wondered who’s next to head coach Mauricio Pochettino on the bench during a U.S. Men’s National Team match? Get to know Jesús Pérez, USMNT assistant coach, Pochettino’s right-hand man and this week’s featured guest on the U.S. Soccer Podcast. Since joining Pochettino nearly 15 years ago at his first managerial job in Europe, Pérez has supported Pochettino at each successive stop on the European club circuit and now serves alongside him on the U.S. staff preparing the National Team for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
0:30 – Intro with David Gass, Alejandro Bedoya and Meghan Klingenberg
2:18 – Ale interviews U.S. Men’s National Team assistant coach Jesús Pérez
3:03 – Pérez shares his soccer journey growing up in Barcelona and playing right wing
6:00 – Meeting Mauricio Pochettino for the first time at Espanyol and early coaching days in La Liga
13:00 – Pérez on what impresses him most about Pochettino
15:12 – How the USMNT coaching staff utilizes data analytics and the role it plays in roster selection
24:40 – What is Team USA’s tactics and philosophies?
27:00 – Pérez discusses the FIFA 2026 World Cup: “We really believe that we can win it”
31:00 – Working with swimmers and how that shaped his coaching perspective
33:40 – Gass and Kling react to the interview (they’re fired up!), then Kling and Ale name the assistant coaches, including Pat Noonan, who impacted their careers
39:40 – Show your fandom and shop official U.S. Soccer gear this holiday season
40:00 – Join our World Cup Group Draw experience in Times Square in New York City
40:25 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts
47:30 – Ale Bedoya looks back on the 2025 MLS season for Philadelphia Union and reacts to the season coming to an end in the MLS Cup Playoffs
The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.
Hosts: Alejandro Bedoya, David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg
Guest: Jesús Pérez
Producer: Matthew Nelson
To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast
