États-Unis : Mauricio Pochettino rempile jusqu’en 2030

La Fédération américaine de football a confirmé ce lundi la prolongation de Mauricio Pochettino. Arrivé à la tête de la sélection en septembre 2024, l’entraîneur argentin est désormais lié à l’USMNT jusqu’en 2030.

Au-delà de ses fonctions de sélectionneur, l’ancien coach du PSG contribuera également au développement du football américain. Il apportera son expertise dans plusieurs domaines, notamment la formation des jeunes joueurs, l’accompagnement des entraîneurs, les relations avec les ligues professionnelles et les orientations techniques de la fédération.

Cette prolongation récompense les progrès affichés par les États-Unis ces derniers mois. Lors de la Coupe du monde 2026, la sélection américaine a terminé première de son groupe, avant de retrouver les huitièmes de finale pour la première fois depuis 2002 grâce à un succès contre la Bosnie-Herzégovine (2-0). Son parcours s’est ensuite arrêté face à la Belgique (1-4). biznow.biz

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20 000 dollars, c’est la caution maximale que devront désormais verser les ressortissants de 50 pays, dont 30 pays africains, pour se rendre aux États-Unis avec un visa de tourisme ou d'affaires, soit une augmentation de 5 000 dollars. Ce lundi 3 août, le programme provisoire qui rend plus difficile l'obtention de visas pour les États-Unis devient permanent et se durcit encore. Testé pendant un an, il est qualifié de « vrai succès » par le gouvernement américain.

Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids said veteran Springboks returning from injury had acquitted themselves well in training and, while they are expected to give their all, they will be managed carefully during Saturday’s one-off Test against Argentina.

Regular captain Siya Kolisi, most-capped Springbok Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Morné van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are all expected to make a return in Buenos Aires.

Most of these players have been injured for a few months, with Etzebeth and De Jager each only playing one match for their franchises in 2026.

But Davids said Monday they would also be expected to “press as hard as they can for as long as they can” as the South African rugby team pursue their goals on a four-match winning streak this season, and having won the last three encounters against Argentina.

Argentina no warm-up

“We are proud of our records and the way we get an opportunity to take our standards from game to game,” Davids said.

“Argentina… are very passionate and gutsy, especially when playing in Argentina.

“If you are coming to Argentina seeing it as a start or warm-up [to the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand], I think that’s a big mistake.”

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi was forced to select 10 uncapped players in a 34-man squad to face the Springboks due to European club commitments.

Davids said the young Los Pumas side would be out to prove a point. But the returning Springboks would also want to make an impact.

“From a set-piece perspective, we all know they are experienced guys. They mean a lot,” he said of De Jager and Etzebeth around the lineout.

“We hope that they find their feet quite well. We had a very good build-up in this game in our camp week.

“Now it’s a fantastic opportunity for them to play, which is important as we build towards the rest of the season.”

Veteran Springboks won’t be overworked

The assistant coach said the Springboks had taken into account how some have not played in a while.

“We will take our lead in terms of the intensity and how the game is played,” Davids explained.

“We have specific plans in terms of how we want to manage them throughout the next couple of games. For them just to get into it, express themselves, press as hard as they can for as long as they can – that is important for us.”

He said these players are ready to play. But a full matchday 23 ensures a result. So no individuals would be overworked.

Deon Fourie has urged his Stormers teammates to savour every second of Friday night’s historic meeting with the All Blacks, where many of them will face the haka for the first and possibly last time.

The clash at Cape Town Stadium opens the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series and marks the first time in half a century that the Stormers have the opportunity to take on New Zealand’s famous Test side.

For Fourie, who faced the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup final, the significance of the occasion extends far beyond the result.

“It’s a massive occasion. I was fortunate enough to play one game against the All Blacks, but probably 80 or 90% of these guys won’t get that opportunity again.

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“If you don’t play for the Springboks, you’ll never face the haka or play against the All Blacks. So what a massive occasion. Fifty years on, we get the opportunity again, as a union and as a club, to play against a Test side.”

The 39-year-old loose forward admitted he has been counting down to the fixture ever since it was announced, particularly after his recent injury battle.

“I’ve been looking forward to this game since it was announced. To represent your union and your club – a club that’s very dear to my heart and where I’ve spent almost my entire career – against a Test side like the All Blacks is a massive occasion.

“Like I said, 80 or 90% of these guys probably won’t get another opportunity to play against the All Blacks or face the haka. That’s something every little boy dreams about when he starts playing rugby and watches the Springboks take on the All Blacks. Most of these guys will probably get their only opportunity to experience that.”

ALSO: All Blacks brace for unknown Stormers battle

Fourie has spent the past few months recovering from knee surgery and believes he is ready if selected.

“I’m ready. I’m 10 or 11 weeks after the operation. Fitness-wise, I’ll probably only know if I play on Friday, but I’m definitely ready to go.

The veteran, who won the World Cup with the Springboks in France, said his previous experience against the All Blacks passed in a blur.

“The coaches picked my brain this morning. I can’t really remember much of those 77 minutes because it went by so quickly, but they’re great memories.”

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry schedule

Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images

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