Mauricio Pochettino impressed with MLS as he takes in Hudson River Derby

If Major League Soccer was looking for a spokesperson to laud the development of the league, they had their man in U.S.men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino on Friday night as he stood near the pitch at Yankee Stadium. With the USMNT on the cusp of opening its first camp since the World Cup ended earlier this summer, Pochettino is leaning heavily into the youth during the extended September-October international window.

Among the invitees are 12 players from MLS and nine who are earning their first call-ups to the senior men’s national team, including Red Bull New York stars Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti. “It’s an unbelievable job the MLS is doing, giving the possibilities to the young [players],” Pochettino told a small group of journalists on Friday, which included The Post.“The clubs giving the [opportunities] to 17- and 16-year-olds, playing 18-year-olds.

I think that is an amazing thing that shows that this is very healthy and we have amazing talent in the youth. “And the clubs in the MLS are doing a very good job.” Pochettino was on hand to watch the final version of the 2026 Hudson River Derby between the Red Bulls and New York City FC, with both clubs featuring players headed to next week’s USMNT camp. Hall and Mehmeti highlighted the young talent on the pitch that Pochettino was talking about when it comes to the men’s national team program, but the USMNT boss pumped the brakes on any massive expectations that may be placed on the pair of American stars. “Careful, I think they’re young.… Of course, they deserve [to be here] and we need to pay attention to them, but relax,” he said when asked about the pair of New York stars. Pochettino said that right now the focus is on helping to provide the tools “for them to keep the evolution” and that “they will be better players and better [people].” He would not say if either would see playing time during the upcoming friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Can...