With just nine months remaining until the 2026 World Cup, U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino is still in the process of determining his optimal starting lineup. The recent 2-0 loss to South Korea in a friendly match highlighted the ongoing experimentation, marking the 14th different starting XI in 17 games under Pochettino's tenure.

Pochettino has been vocal about his approach, emphasizing that no player's position is guaranteed. "This is a camp that I think is going to be the last camp to have the possibility for us to see players, new faces," Pochettino stated in late August. "No one has their place assured, and that is my message for everyone that you need to fight."

The Argentine coach has faced numerous challenges, including injuries, player availability issues, and inconsistent results. Despite these setbacks, Pochettino has shown a willingness to explore different options, giving opportunities to fringe players while high-profile starters like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie have been absent from recent squads.

The USMNT's recent performances have been underwhelming, with six losses in the last 11 games. The team failed to win the Gold Cup with an experimental roster and finished fourth in the Nations League. These results have raised concerns among former players and analysts.

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, both retired USMNT legends, expressed their worries on their "Unfiltered Soccer" podcast. "I'm a little confused, because it seems like the experimental phase is still going on," Donovan said. Howard added, "We're in September, we're running out of time."

Pochettino, however, remains focused on the ultimate goal. "We need to start to win when the World Cup starts," he said after the loss to South Korea. With only four international breaks left before the World Cup preparations begin next summer, the pressure is mounting for Pochettino to finalize his squad and build momentum.

Key players like Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, Timothy Weah, and Folarin Balogun have been notably absent from the lineup with the most minutes. While injuries and club commitments are factors, the lack of a consistent starting XI has been a point of contention.

As the USMNT prepares for their next friendly against Japan, the focus will be on whether Pochettino can settle on a cohesive team. The clock is ticking, and the question remains: does Pochettino know his best XI, and is he willing to commit to it before time runs out?