Count the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team as the latest to embrace the whole “tunnel walk” trend. And Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the team, is the first to give the idea a double thumbs-up.

“Image is nearly everything for me,” he told WWD. “I have two things: how you look and how you smell. If you look good and you don’t smell well, or you smell well but don’t look good, you miss something. It’s that combination of dressing very well and then having a good perfume that is a perfect combination to intimidate the opponent.”

And thanks to Boss, the U.S. team will be quite intimidating — at least when it comes to their wardrobe. The brand has signed a deal to be the formalwear provider for the team and will outfit Pochettino and the 26 players in Performance Air Wool suits for major moments across the season. The hero look includes a relaxed overshirt with patch pockets and an unconstructed jacket paired with wide-leg trousers in lightweight, breathable fabrics with stretch for movement and embroidered with the team crest.

Pochettino said he personally loves the suits because they feel like a second skin and allow him to run, walk or jump with ease. “It seems like a perfect material that fits my personality,” he said.

And much like when LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates all wore Thom Browne in 2018 for the NBA Playoffs, he expects the deal with Boss to create the same sense of team pride among the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team.

“I think when you are a team, you need to behave like a team and look like a team, and I think being a partner with Boss is going to be an amazing opportunity to show that togetherness,” Pochettino said.

He added that when a team is not one cohesive group, it reflects on the field. “The important thing is not to start the game losing,” he said. “On the field, we need to win, that is really important, but how people see you the first time you meet them for me is one of the keys to being successful.”

James Foster, senior vice president of global marketing for Hugo Boss, agreed. “This is an alliance between one of the world’s most ambitious teams and a brand built on confidence, style and leadership. As the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team steps on the global stage, we want the players to feel empowered the moment they arrive. Looking sharp. Feeling confident. Ready to represent their country with pride. Wearing the badge is more than a symbol — it’s a statement of identity, ambition and honor. These looks are designed to reflect that mindset and give players a presence that commands attention. Together, Boss and U.S. soccer celebrate the badge, the team, and the pride of representing your country at the highest level.”

 On Tuesday, Pochettino was given the difficult task of selecting the 26 athletes who will be representing the U.S. in the FIFA World Cup. “It was really tough, to be honest,” he said. “For sure, 26 players, their families and friends are really excited. But there are another nearly 50 players that are sad. That’s the most difficult thing in football, or soccer, with an international team because everyone has the dream to be involved in the World Cup, but it’s our job to design the best strategy and pick the players with the combination to have a very good balance on the team and compete well. So I’m happy for the 26 but also sad for the people that cannot make the roster.”

With the team set, it’s time to ensure they can play together cohesively. Pochettino said. “Yes, that is the challenge, to make a team. You cannot train people, but you can make the right selection, the combination of profiles and characters. But it’s not only us, every single national team has the same challenge.”

That being said, Pochettino believes the U.S. has a good chance to win the tournament. “In football, you cannot predict, you cannot guess, so it’s important that we arrive in our best individual and collective way. We really believe we can do a very good job to compete in the tournament.”

He believes the biggest challenger will be Argentina, the reigning World Cup champ, but the other national teams from Spain, England, France, Brazil and Portugal are also expected to present some strong competition. “They are very good teams and very good individual players so there will be plenty of good contenders,” Pochettino said.

One advantage the U.S. team will have is that the tournament is going to be played on its home continent. “It’s massive,” he said. “To host the World Cup is an historic moment. I think we are excited and ready to compete, because to have that experience in our own country is massive.”

And it will provide an added impetus to the American players. “Everyone is thinking the team is going to feel pressure, but we are working to transform that pressure into energy,” he said. “The synergy between the fans and the team will be very exciting and we’ll be ready to compete in our best way and try to win the tournament.”

Win or lose, at least the U.S. team will be dressed well.

The looks created for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team will also be available to shop in Boss stores, through selected wholesale partners across the U.S. and Europe, and online.

In addition, Boss will create fanwear collections featuring national colors and flags from multiple countries including the U.S., England, Germany, Mexico, France, Brazil and others including jerseys, jackets, polos, T-shirts, shorts, caps and sweatshirts designed with performance materials.