It’s finally time for Mauricio Pochettino to take charge of the USMNT when USA take on Panama on Saturday

Welcome to the weekend! UEFA Nations League and FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers in many of the various soccer confederations are starting and its a big weekend for the U.S. Men’s National Team with Mauricio Pochettino debuting as head coach. Jonathan Johnson here to tee you up.

Footy Fix

All times U.S./Eastern

Friday, October 11
UNL: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Germany, 2:45 p.m. FS2
CONMEBOL WCQ: Peru vs. Uruguay, 9:30 p.m. Fanatiz PPV

Saturday, October 12
EFL League One: Birmingham City vs. Cambridge United, 7:30 a.m.  Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network
UNL: Spain vs. Denmark, 2:45 p.m. ViX
Pochettino debut: USMNT vs. Panama, 9 p.m. TNT

Sunday, October 13
UNL: Finland vs. England, 12 p.m. Noon FS1
UNL: Austria vs. Norway, 2:45 p.m. FS2
MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m. MLS Season Pass

The Forward Line

Poch’s USMNT debut

Mauricio Pochettino’s debut as U.S. Men’s National Team head coach is finally here with the Stars and Stripes facing Panama on Saturday with the Argentine’s arrival expected to usher in a new and successful era for American international soccer. The FIFA 2026 World Cup co-hosts are aiming to reboot before the world’s biggest competition comes to home soil, and a disastrous summer Copa America as hosts will be major motivation. USMNT bosses have won their opening games four times from the last eight hires which includes Bruce Arena and Gregg Berhalter’s separate stints. Pardeep Cattry traced all the way back to Bora Milutinovic’s 1991 hire to uncover a 20-plus year unbeaten run going into Saturday’s game — here is how predecessor Berhalter fared, what Zack Steffen has made of Pochettino’s early methods and why Chuck Booth believes that Josh Sargent is primed to make the most of Folarin Balogun’s absence.

• Cattry on Berhalter’s first stint: “After a year-long hiring process, MLS recruit Gregg Berhalter was hired to lead a youthful refresh of the USMNT in Dec. 2018. He took charge of the team for the first time the following month, again in a January camp setting, beating Panama 3-0 at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Djordje Mihailovic, Walker Zimmermann and Cristian Ramirez scored that day, while starters like Zimmerman and Cristian Roldan later being named to the 2022 World Cup roster. Berhalter’s young USMNT reached the round of 16 in Qatar, but he briefly left the post at the end of the year upon the expiration of his contract, which followed quite the controversy.”
• Cattry on Berhalter’s second stint: “After nine months away from the team, Berhalter marked his return with a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in September 2023 at St. Louis’ CityPark. By then, the look and feel of Berhalter’s USMNT was well-known and so the usual suspects started and excelled that day. Timothy Weah, Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi scored, while all but two players who played that day went to the Copa America the following summer. Berhalter’s time in charge came to end following the expanded South American championship because of the team’s surprisingly early group stage exit, though the roster from that tournament mostly remains intact for Pochettino’s first game.”
• Steffen on Pochettino: “I’d say the biggest surprise has been that keeper training has been different than anything that I’ve had in the past and it’s all good,” former Manchester City goalkeeper Steffen told CBS Sports Golazo Network‘s Morning Footy on Thursday. “It’s tough, it’s different but it’s all different tools that I can keep in my toolshed for games and trainings. We had a good meeting yesterday, we had a good meeting the first day. Just about the No. 1 goal is to save shots, defend the goal and if we can play out, then we play out but there’s no need to force it but ultimately, our job is to keep the ball out of the back of the net. That’s my goal, to come in here and push everyone around me. I lead and to use my experience to play my best football and get a chance at playing No. 1 and that’s my goal.”
• Booth on Sargent’s chance: “Sargent has had quite a ride since entering the 2022 World Cup as the starting striker for the USMNT, but one thing has been a constant. When healthy, he’s finding the back of the net for Norwich City in the Championship. This season he has four goals and three assists in all competitions while being one of the main focal points of the attack. Sargent is a very different type of striker than Balogun, an all-arounder rather than a poacher, but do everything forwards who can press and win the ball in the air have excelled under Pochettino during his club career.”

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There are a number of high-profile matchups to come this weekend, while England already underlined the jeopardy stakes at this level with a late home defeat to Greece on Thursday. Although things are far from over at this stage, it is also worth remembering that even a second-placed finish can get teams into the knockout phase. Looking ahead to the weekend, the Three Lions will be back at it on Sunday against Finland, but Germany are also in action on Friday as well as Spain and Portugal on Saturday.

Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Germany: The Germans return to UNL action against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica. Julian Nagelsmann’s side have four points from six to lead the way ahead of the Netherlands in League A Group 3 while Bosnia have one point in third so far. A 2-2 draw with the Dutch extended Germany’s poor road form with four wins from 13 games outside of their homeland. The UEFA Euro 2024 hosts and quarterfinalists have won just one of nine UNL games away from home with four consecutive draws. A goalless draw with Hungary ended a run of seven straight losses for Bosnia who also lost their final four Euro 2024 qualifiers which ended their hopes of going to last summer’s Euro in Germany. Bosnia are on a three-game winning streak at home in the UNL but have never beaten Germany as an independent state while their last meeting was a friendly back in 2010 which finished 3-1 to the Germans.

Spain vs. Denmark: Spain continue their UNL title defense against League A Group 4 pacesetters Denmark in Murcia on Saturday. The Danes have six points from six while La Roja have just four after a sluggish start after their summer UEFA Euro 2024 success in Germany. The Spanish started their UNL campaign by drawing away at Serbia before thrashing Switzerland. The Danes did not win a game at Euro 2024 with three group stage draws before a round of 16 loss to their German hosts but they do have wins over the Swiss and the Serbs already. Denmark have only won two of their last 16 meetings across all competitions with Spain and that last success came back in 1993 which was a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win.

Poland vs. Portugal: Portugal take on Poland in Warsaw after consecutive wins and sit top of UNL League A Group 1 after two games. Cristiano Ronaldo inspired his nation over the September games which puts the Portuguese three points clear of their hosts ahead of this one. Roberto Martinez has kept faith in Ronaldo who is aiming for the FIFA 2026 World Cup despite being 39. Wins against Poland and Scotland this break will book a quarterfinal place with a top two finish. Unbeaten in six against Poland, the Polish had a poor UEFA Euro 2024 showing. World Cup 2026 will be the aim, but avoiding UNL relegation will be and objective although a knockout phase berth is still possible.

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 NWSL playoffs scenarios, schedule: Three spots up for grabs with just three games to go in regular season while eight teams are in the race for three spots and here’s what teams need to get in this weekend.

The Back Line

Best Bet

• CONMEBOL WCQ: Peru vs. Uruguay, Saturday, 9:30 p.m. ET
  THE PICK: Uruguay to win and both to score (+450) — The first round of October’s CONMEBOL FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers have been unmissable with Bolivia toppling Colombia, Venezuela holding Argentina and Brazil fighting back to edge out Chile. With Uruguay yet to take on Peru ahead of another slate of high stakes games from South America, including the Albiceleste against La Verde, Marcelo Bielsa’s men are likely to enhance this international break’s offering. The Peruvians are rock bottom and two points adrift of La Roja after that loss to the Selecao so an unexpected win could move the hosts off of the foot of the standings. However, La Celeste can jump into second with a win and close the gap on Argentina to just a single point ahead of that tricky clash with Bolivia. Expect the Uruguayans to come out on top but for Peru to put up a fight and threaten at least a draw.

For more picks, predictions, expert tips and the latest betting news, don’t miss out on CBSSports.com’s betting home page. 

What’s on CBS Sports Golazo Network

 Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): Hosts Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, Nico Cantor and Alexis Guerreros help fans get their day started on the network’s flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the biggest soccer storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast form, so you’ll never have to miss an episode.

3⃣ Attacking Third (Monday, Thursday,): The leading women’s soccer podcast and social brand is now a live studio show. The NWSL season is back and our coverage of the women’s game is stronger than ever. Our analysts will be breaking down the USWNT, NWSL and European domestic season all year long. And don’t miss Wednesday live streams on YouTube at 11 a.m. ET.

 Call it What You Want (Monday night): A weekly podcast where Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and co. cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. You can also catch the show streaming live on YouTube every Monday at 11 a.m. ET.

 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the newest place for fans to catch up on all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from the top soccer competitions and all the can’t-miss goals from the day’s action, starting Thursday and airing seven days a week.

 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel exclusively dedicated to offering unparalleled coverage of all the top soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV and Paramount+.