USMNT beginning to find their identity under Pochettino after promising Ecuador draw

For the first time in a long while, there is a real sense of growth surrounding the United States men’s national team. Thursday night’s 1–1 draw with Ecuador wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was the latest sign that Mauricio Pochettino’s influence is beginning to take hold.

The U.S. looked organized, confident, and increasingly comfortable playing a more expansive, purposeful brand of soccer — qualities that had too often gone missing in the last 12 months.

From his very first camp, Pochettino emphasized intensity and positional discipline, two trademarks of his coaching philosophy. Yet those principles did not seem to make their way down to the players in the opening months of his tenure.

Against Ecuador, they were certainly visible in the team’s shape and ball movement. The U.S. pressed higher up the field than in previous cycles, forcing turnovers and dictating long stretches of possession.

The biggest difference as of late has been in the attack. The U.S. moved the ball faster and created chances from wide areas instead of relying solely on direct play. Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie both thrived in freer roles, drifting between the lines, combining with fullbacks, and looking to play through pressure rather than around it.

Folarin Balogun’s equalizer, a clever finish off a flowing team move, summed up what Pochettino has been trying to instill: quick combinations, purposeful movement, and composure in the final third. Even when chances didn’t result in goals, the sequences leading up to them showed a team growing more confident in its developing identity.

Defensively, however, there are still areas to refine. The U.S. were punished for a lapse in marking on Ecuador’s opener.

But beyond that moment, the back-line of Chris Richards, Tim Ream and Miles Robinson handled physical duels well and looked comfortable playing out from the back, another key Pochettino demand.

The overall defensive shape was compact and cohesive, a far cry from the disjointed performances that plagued the U.S. in previous friendlies.

It’s early days for the Pochettino era, but the signs are promising. The USMNT aren't just competing, they’re beginning to control games, this time against strong South American opposition. The players appear energized, the tactics clearer, and the performances more consistent.

The draw in Austin may not go down as a famous result, but it carried more weight than the scoreline suggests. It showed a team that’s buying into a new vision — one rooted in aggression, unity, and belief.

If the U.S. continues to build on nights like this, Pochettino’s appointment may soon look like one of U.S. Soccer’s smarter decisions.