That “connection between the fans and the team,” Pochettino said, “that is the connection that we [would] like to see in the World Cup. That connection that makes you fly.”

The U.S. men's national team secured a 2–1 victory over Guatemala at Energizer Park to punch their tickets to the Gold Cup final. Just three days after the USMNT dispatched a resilient Costa Rica side in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout,

Mauricio Pochettino insisted the United States’ thrilling penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals on Sunday would be of “priceless” benefit as he desperately tries to instill confidence and momentum in his team after a miserable recent slump.