Clint Dempsey Sounds Off on Pulisic-Pochettino Drama and Current State of USMNT

The U.S. men’s national team hasn’t enjoyed much smooth sailing since their loss to the Netherlands in the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

There was a slow, drama-filled managerial hiring process that led to Gregg Berhalter’s second cycle in charge of the national team. There was a group-stage exit at the Copa America on home soil last summer. Then there was another managerial change, one that led to Mauricio Pochettino being hired in the fall.

Still, both performances and results lagged. The USMNT fell short at the Concacaf Nations League in March, finishing last at the final four. Then there’s been the ongoing drama involving Christian Pulisic’s lack of presence in camp with the U.S. this summer.

Now, amid the Gold Cup and with the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, just what is the state of the USMNT? 

Bleacher Report spoke with U.S. men’s national team legend Clint Dempsey to get his perspective. He is currently partnered with Abbott and Real Madrid to spotlight the Abbott Dream Team that helps American players travel to train at Real Madrid. Abbott is a healthcare leader around the world and is working in concert on the project with the 15-time European Cup winners.

"It's one of those things that I wish I'd had the opportunity as an 18, 19-year-old, 20-year-old to do something like that and to test myself," Dempsey said.

When it comes to the USMNT, Dempsey sees both the highs and lows of Pochettino's tenure. The lows? With a World Cup on the horizon, the U.S. only recently broke a four-game losing streak.

The highs?

"If you have a new coach, there’s new eyes and new talent that you can kind of bring into the fray," the former Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham midfielder said.

“For some of the main players that are always in the lineup, they have to be on their game. It's not just going to be given to you. I'm looking forward to that battle."

There’s no shortage of new faces in camp for the United States amid a sea of absences. One of those missing—Pulisic—has prompted plenty of comments from former players, including Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, and a call-and-response from Pulisic and Pochettino.

Despite the public drama, Dempsey doesn't view it as a major distraction for those in the U.S. camp.

"I look at it [being like] you have a player who's injured and that can't play—it's almost like that's what the case is because he's not there to play in the games. So here's what you have, this is the team that you have…it's next man up."

Though there was a statement from U.S. Soccer’s sporting director last month, Dempsey was disappointed the federation didn't do more to create a united front between Pulisic and Pochettino.

He said: "The only thing I was disappointed at from U.S. Soccer is I think there's a way that there could have been conversations to where there's a unified statement that was out and there's no back and forth between one of your best players and the coach and we're not having drama one year out from the World Cup."

Still, in the absence of Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and many others, new faces are providing optimism for U.S. fans. Newcomers Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, and Jack McGlynn have started across the United States' attacking midfield line in two games already this summer.

In Luna, a 21-year-old rising star for Real Salt Lake, Dempsey sees a well-rounded attacker. 

"He has a little bit of everything," he said. "He's someone who's a dog. He's going to run, he's going to get stuck in, he's going to tackle. But he also has skill."

In Tillman, a 23-year-old midfielder who has dominated with PSV in the Dutch top flight, Dempsey sees a player growing in confidence.

 "He's got those two goals [against Trinidad and Tobago]. He's got the swag that he has at PSV, bringing it to the national team," he said.

And in McGlynn, a 21-year-old midfielder-turned-attacker, Dempsey sees a player capable of changing games as an inverted winger.

"I like especially what I saw in the Türkiye game [from McGlynn], that goal he scored, having the confidence to drive at the player, go inside, use the defender as almost a shield for the goalie blocking his vision, and to whip that ball far post. That’s a top-level goal," he said.

"I want to see more of that, him being more on the front foot and going at people like that."

Still, even with a few promising performers stepping into the lineup this summer, Dempsey emphasized the work ahead of the squad.

For the USMNT, that starts at the back. He noted a need for a goalkeeper who is "playing week in and week out," and "more consistency in terms of your backline—that’s not something you want to be changing too often," and "the ability to play forward more often and to take risks."

"From some of these games, I've seen players get into attacking areas and they just go back or they go sideways. I would like to see them sometimes take a little bit more risk, beat a man, try to get to the line, and open things up to come inside more and off-balance these defenses."

With plenty still to do before next summer’s World Cup on home soil, Dempsey's bare minimum expectation is clear: "They better get out of the group."

"I look back to the 1994 World Cup, it's a chance to inspire the youth," he said. "I was inspired in ’94. I came to two of the games in Dallas and that's where I was able to see that this is realistic, this is something I can accomplish because I can see it with my own eyes…1994 brought about the MLS league afterwards.

"What does a great showing at 2026 do? What's the next level that we take it to? So, at bare minimum, get out of the group, man. If you don't get out of the group, I see that as a failure."