News Focus
- United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino filmed scanning his team’s training ground for spies
- The Argentine manager references modern football’s “era of the spy” at a press conference
- Guardian journalist Pablo Iglesias Maurer captures the footage before the Australia group match
- Incident highlights growing concerns over tactical espionage at major tournaments
United States manager Mauricio Pochettino has been caught on camera apparently hunting for spies around his team’s training facility. The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss was recorded by Guardian reporter Pablo Iglesias Maurer while surveying the area at the World Cup 2026 base.
The footage shows the Argentine coach checking the surroundings before his side’s second group-stage match against Australia. Pochettino later confirmed his actions when speaking to journalists at a pre-match press conference.
“I wanted to look, because you know, we live in an era of, how do you say: spy,” he explained. His comments reflect growing fears about surveillance and tactical leaks in international football competitions.
The incident comes as teams take extra care to protect their strategies during the tournament. Pochettino’s cautious approach shows how seriously managers now take the risk of opponents watching their training sessions.