MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Mauricio Pochettino wears plenty of hats in his role as U.S. Men’s National Team head coach, from tactician to roster manager to ambassador for the sport in the United States. 

He was in the middle of performing his ambassador duties last weekend in Ohio on the set of Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” ahead of the Ohio State-Texas college football game and had the “type of surprise” that’s hard to come by at the age of 53.

The USMNT coach was blown away by the atmosphere and the passion of the fans that he saw and it made him hopeful he will generate the same sort of support for his team someday. 

“It’s our responsibility to translate to all these people that maybe are more focused on another sport like football — American football,” Pochettino said. “It’s to try to convince them [to] share with soccer that passion. If only a little bit we can translate to our sport, I think our players will appreciate a lot, and for sure [the fans] will help us to achieve or earn what we want.”