Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team, took the mound for a ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball (MLB) game ahead of the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup Round of 16 in North America.
On July 4, Pochettino stepped up to the pitcher’s plate at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, during a game between the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays.
He had a quick practice session with backup goalkeeper Matt Turner, a former baseball player, to prepare for the pitch.
Pochettino delivered an accurate throw, landing the ball squarely in Seattle manager Dan Wilson’s glove, who served as the catcher for the occasion.
MLB.com reported that it was a pretty good first pitch for someone who had never touched a baseball until that morning.
Pochettino’s appearance at the ballpark comes amid the ongoing World Cup tournament, with the U.S. set to face Belgium in the Round of 16 on July 7 at Seattle Stadium.
Over 70 members of the U.S. soccer team, including Pochettino, were in attendance at T-Mobile Park that day.
The team made a grand entrance, walking the red carpet one by one, with hometown hero Cristian Roldan, a midfielder for the MLS Seattle Sounders, receiving the loudest cheers.
Pochettino shared a brief sentiment, thanking that Seattle is a wonderful city and a soccer city.
The U.S. team boasts an impressive record in Seattle, having won all seven of their previous international matches in the city. If they manage to defeat Belgium and advance to the quarterfinals, it would mark their first such achievement since the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.