The United States men's national team made sure the Mauricio Pochettino era would start off on the right foot with a 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday in an international friendly. Christian Pulisic found Yunus Musah early in the second half for the game's lone goal,

It remains to be seen if Mauricio Pochettino can guide the U.S. men's national soccer team to new heights, but his debut as coach resulted in victory.

The new coach is still learning his new players, and the difficulty will rise with Tuesday’s match at rival Mexico.

The Mauricio Pochettino era for the U.S. men’s national team is off and running. Playing its first match since the hiring of the big-name coach in August, the USMNT didn’t disappoint with a 2-0 win over Panama in a friendly Saturday at Q2 Stadium.

Little by little building something. The objective is 2026,” Pochettino said, referencing the upcoming World Cup. “It’s only the first step.”