Morristown: Mauricio Pochettino, ex-head coach of Tottenham Hotspur now leading the U.S. men's national team, is looking forward to going up against his former player and South Korean superstar Son Heung-min when the two countries square off in New Jersey this weekend.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Pochettino expressed his excitement at a prematch press conference in Morristown, New Jersey, stating, "It is going to be an amazing opportunity to see each other." The U.S.-South Korea showdown will be at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, at 5 p.m. Saturday (local time), or 6 a.m. Sunday (South Korean time). Pochettino praised Son as a crucial player during his tenure at Tottenham, where Son was the first Premier League player to be coached by him.

Pochettino also reminisced about his earlier attempts to sign Son during his time as head coach at Southampton, highlighting the South Korean's career path from Hamburg to Leverkusen before eventually joining Tottenham. Son left Tottenham as a club legend, ranking fifth in history with 173 goals and captaining the team to a UEFA Europa League title earlier this year.

Addressing Son's recent move to Major League Soccer with Los Angeles Football Club, Pochettino emphasized Son's potential impact on the league, noting his capacity to influence both teammates and opponents. In his brief MLS career, Son has already made a mark with a goal, an assist, and increased interest in the league, particularly among Korean residents.

Pochettino cited the influence of other football greats, such as Lionel Messi, on MLS, asserting that Son's addition would further elevate the league's profile and level of play. Despite his respect for Son, Pochettino is focused on leading his 15th-ranked U.S. team against South Korea, emphasizing the importance of competition and team development ahead of the World Cup.

A U.S. team official announced after the press conference that the match will be played in front of a sellout crowd of 26,500.