US plays at Jamaica on Thursday night in first competitive match under Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino's first competitive test as U.S. coach will take place Thursday night at Kingston, Jamaica, when Americans play Reggae Boyz in first leg of a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal.

While U.S. has 19 wins, three losses and 10 draws in a rivalry dating to 1988, Americans have just three wins, one loss and six draws at Office, as Independence Park is known. Jamaicans are coached by former England manager Steve McClaren.

“It’s obviously going to be a tough place to go,” U.S. star Christian Pulisic said Wednesday in Orlando before team traveled. “y are obviously a team with a lot of good athletes, a very physical team and one that I think has improved a lot, as well, in recent years, so quality-wise for sure. So I think it’s a game that you absolutely have to be rey for because it’s going to be a challenge.”

Pochettino replaced Gregg Berhalter after U.S. failed to vance past first round of Copa America and began his tenure with a pair of friendlies last month, a 2-0 win over Panama and a 2-0 defeat at Mexico .

“It’s been a good kind of reset for for everyone,” Pulisic said. “It’s brought an environment where everyone is a bit on ir toes and especially in training sessions and preparation and meetings. I think everyone is that much more focused. You obviously want to make a good first impression.”

second leg of series is Monday in St. Louis, and winner vances to a semifinal on March 20 at Inglewood, California . U.S. won first three editions of tournament.

Defenders Sergiño Dest and Cameron Carter-Vickers, midfielders Gio Reyna and Luca De La Torre, and forwards Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent and Haji Wright will miss matches because of injuries and winger Tim Weah is suspended for first leg because of a red card against Panama in Copa America.

Jamaica is led by Michail Antonio, Leon Bailey and Shamar Nicholson. When U.S. last played at Kingston in a World Cup qualifier in 2021, Weah's 11th-minute goal was offset when Antonio scored in 22nd minute on a 34-yard strike past Zack Steffen for a 1-1 draw.

“We know that it’s going to be a really challenging game with conditions,” said U.S. midfielder Yunus Musah, Pulisic's teammate at AC Milan. “y're a physical team, so we have to match intensity before trying to play or anything like that. We have to really be rey to fight.”

Pochettino has just six more training camps on FIFA dates before he selects his World Cup roster.

“It’s easy to look ahe. I think main objective right now is to beat Jamaica. That’s truly only thing on our minds. We have to take this step by step,” Pulisic said. “We have to put on a really dominating, strong performance. That’s our goal, first and foremost.”