CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Mauricio Pochettino gathered players around him during a hydration break in the 24th minute of Sunday's friendly against Senegal to give some tactical instructions.
Not with his voice or a clipboard, but with a laptop.
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Senegal midfielder Bara Ndiaye (27) deflects a shot from United States midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (14) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Senegal defender Malick Diouf (25) shoots against United States during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Senegal defender Malick Diouf, left, and United States forward Tim Weah (21) vie for a header during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
United States defender Miles Robinson (12) heads the ball away from Senegal forward Assane Diao (7) during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Television cameras showed the U.S. coach pointing to the screen with a finger as he talked, apparently showing desired movements on the field. Huddled players watched intently.
“Players need to think, but they also need to see," Pochettino said said after the Americans' 3-2 win.
Pochettino said the U.S. has not been told by FIFA whether laptop use during breaks will be allowed during the World Cup. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Midfielder Weston McKennie said any time he can see and learn from field movement is helpful.
Christian Pulisic said it was similar to what the team does following the first half.
“It's a little unique for us,” Pulisic said. “But that's also what we do at halftime — we just go over some things.”
Pulisic said overall he is in favor of more breaks in soccer, which until the adoption of the hydration breaks featured 45 straight minutes plus stoppage time of non-stop action in each half.
“I think it's a good thing,” Pulisic said. “Like timeouts would be a good thing in soccer. I feel like it's nice to get a little regroup.”
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Senegal midfielder Bara Ndiaye (27) deflects a shot from United States midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (14) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Senegal defender Malick Diouf (25) shoots against United States during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Senegal defender Malick Diouf, left, and United States forward Tim Weah (21) vie for a header during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
United States defender Miles Robinson (12) heads the ball away from Senegal forward Assane Diao (7) during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Colombians voted to select a successor to President Gustavo Petro in an election Sunday, as armed guards and police kept watch. Candidates Iván Cepeda and Abelardo de la Espriella advanced to the second round.
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Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement celebrate after the candidate advanced to a runoff election in Cali, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement celebrate after the candidate advanced to a runoff election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026.(AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
Presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition addresses supporters after advancing to a runoff election in second place in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Supporters of presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition react as election results are announced in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement salutes after voting during the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
A woman wrapped in a Colombian flag votes during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Vargas)
Election officials count ballots after polls closed during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Presidential candidate Paloma Valencia of the Democratic Center party points as she accompanies to vote former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, left, during the presidential election in Rionegro, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Angel Lopez)
President Gustavo Petro shows a ballot during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Election workers dismantle electoral booths after polls closed during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026.(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Voter leave a polling station during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Soldiers patrol as voters arrive at a polling station during the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
Presidential candidate Paloma Valencia of the Democratic Center party shows her ballot to her daughter during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Vargas)
An election official holds a ballot during the presidential election in Rionegro, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026 (AP Photo/Miguel Angel Lopez)
Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement speaks after voting in the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
Police frisk voters arriving to a polling station during presidential election in Silvia, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Soldiers guard during the presidential election in Santander de Quilichao, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
People vote during the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition marks his ballot during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/John Vizcaino)
Voters check electoral lists at a polling station in Puerto Colombia, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
A voter marks a ballot during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Supporters of presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition gather outside the polling station where he voted during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
