Mauricio Pochettino says the USMNT have a preselected penalty-kick order ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup knockout against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi’s Stadium, with player fitness likely to modify the list. Pochettino stressed sustained penalty work, psychological profiling and outside consultants — citing past shootout success as proof his squad has rehearsed for high-pressure moments.
Pochettino names penalty plan as USMNT prepare for Bosnia knockout
Mauricio Pochettino confirmed the United States men’s national team has a ranked list of penalty takers should Wednesday’s World Cup knockout against Bosnia and Herzegovina head to a shootout. The coach said the order — No. 1 through No. 5 — is set by the technical staff rather than left entirely to players’ in-the-moment confidence.
Immediate implications for the match
That level of planning removes an element of chaos in a high-stakes environment at Levi’s Stadium and signals Pochettino’s preference for managerial control over split-second player decisions. It also acknowledges a key practical caveat: the final lineup of takers will be adjusted by fitness and fatigue if the game goes to extra time.
Fitness updates that could shape the shootout
Auston Trusty returned to training after a brief ankle issue, while Mark McKenzie has been receiving treatment for irritation and missed the latest session. Cristian Roldan has been working individually after a small quad problem and had not trained since June 20, according to the coach. Pochettino said those conditions — minutes played, 120-minute endurance and niggles — will influence who ultimately steps up from the bench or the starting XI.
Why penalty practice matters
Pochettino emphasized repetition and psychological profiling as the foundation of his approach. The staff have rehearsed penalties regularly, consulted outside specialists and built a list based on character, past performance and situational readiness rather than ad-hoc confidence checks. That method aims to reduce the emotional guesswork that can cost teams in shootouts.
Past shootout success and goalkeeper impact
The USMNT’s recent shootout win in the CONCACAF Gold Cup — a 4-3 victory over Costa Rica where goalkeeper Matt Freese made two saves — was cited as evidence the team’s work has traction. Freese’s performance in that moment strengthened his reputation in the pecking order for decisive games, though Pochettino did not frame goalkeeper selection as settled solely by that result.
Coaching context and squad time
Pochettino acknowledged the constraints of national-team windows compared with club cycles; he noted that a typical four-year program gives coaches more opportunities to test players under varied pressures. With limited time, the staff tried to compress evaluations through targeted sessions and psychological work — an approach meant to replicate, as closely as possible, the pressures players will face on Wednesday.
What this means going forward
From a tactical standpoint, preordering penalty takers is a small but meaningful sign of Pochettino’s disciplined management style. It should instill clarity and reduce decision paralysis should the match reach penalties. Practically, the decisive factors will be substitutions, extra-time workload and late injuries — those are the levers most likely to alter Pochettino’s list.
What to watch in the game
Watch for late-game substitutions that preserve potential takers, tests of set-piece nerves early in the match, and any indications Pochettino gives about his goalkeeper choice during press interactions. If the USMNT reach penalties, expect a measured, coach-led sequence rather than improvised heroics.
Bottom line
Pochettino has tried to remove ambiguity ahead of a high-pressure knockout. The preselected penalty order and dedicated psychological work suggest the USMNT are trying to manufacture calm where nerves often decide outcomes.
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Fitness and match events will ultimately determine whether that planning gets executed.
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