Pochettino was named the manager of United States last week in his first role since parting company with Chelsea in May.

The Argentinean, who previously enjoyed a successful five-year spell in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, leading it to a UEFA Champions League final, oversaw a sixth-placed Premier League finish in his only season at Stamford Bridge.

With United States acting as host alongside Canada and Mexico for football's most prestigious tournament in 2026, Pochettino believes his players should harbour ambitions of winning the entire event.

"We need to believe in big things that we can win, not only a game but the [FIFA] World Cup," Pochettino said.

"If we don’t, the journey will be difficult. We have to think big. That is the only way to put your talent in the service of the team. It is a massive challenge."

United States won the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2019 and claimed Olympic gold this summer in Emma Hayes's first tournament as manager of the women's team.

Pochettino, who knows Hayes from the period in which they both managed Chelsea's senior teams, reserved special praise for her, while also wanting his players to be inspired by how successful the women's team had become in recent times.

"In Emma, we have the best coach in the world," Pochettino said.

"The women's team has won everything. We need to match them. They need to be our inspiration, not only with results but in the way they create the philosophy to defend the country, the badge and the culture.

"We want to create something special."

Pochettino's first game in charge will be a friendly versus Panama at Q2 Stadium in Austin on 13 October (AEST).