Mauricio Pochettino and other national team head coaches have been given permission to use laptops to deliver tactical instructions to players during water breaks at the World Cup, according to a report by The Athletic. The decision is framed as a practical development in how teams can communicate during matches, offering coaches a more effective way to present adjustments and game plans in real time.
The Athletic reports that this new allowance gives head coaches the ability to take advantage of water breaks not only for rest and hydration, but also for fast, structured tactical communication. Instead of relying exclusively on verbal instructions or limited sideline interaction, coaches can now use laptops to show players specific information—potentially including positioning guidance, pressing triggers, matchups, and other strategic reminders tailored to what is unfolding on the pitch.
For Pochettino specifically, the report notes he leveraged the new approach during the United States’ match against Senegal. That game is presented as an example of how the laptop-based guidance can be used in a concrete, match-day setting: the information can be delivered during the scheduled moments when players naturally regroup, allowing coaches to reinforce adjustments while their teams are still in a controlled stoppage.
While water breaks are not new to international football, the method and level of technological support behind coaching communication have historically varied. Coaches have often had to condense messaging in a hurry, rely on brief instructions from technical staff, and manage the logistics of getting players’ attention during moments when the match clock is paused and players are already transitioning through the routine of hydration.
This latest change shifts that process toward a more organized and potentially more precise style of tactical instruction. A laptop enables coaches to prepare content or quickly present a diagrammatic explanation to players. Even if the amount of time is short, the ability to show the “what to do” visually—rather than only describing it—can improve understanding, particularly for complex tactical issues. It also provides a way to standardize messaging, which matters when teams feature players with different experiences or when coaches want to emphasize a consistent plan.
The Athletic’s reporting suggests the permission has been officially granted, giving national team head coaches the green light to use laptops in the described manner during the World Cup. The overall significance is that it formalizes what many observers might expect as football increasingly blends coaching with technology. It also underscores how tournament football is continuously adapting, not only on the field through tactics and training, but in the ways teams communicate in the moment.
The news is especially relevant for the USMNT because Pochettino’s use of the laptop during the USA–Senegal match is specifically referenced. That detail indicates the policy is not merely theoretical or future-facing; it is already being used in live competition. For fans, it also provides an insight into what teams may be able to do during stoppages—how quickly coaches can pivot based on what they see, and how they can reinforce specific roles and instructions for the next phase of play.
From a broader perspective, this change benefits multiple aspects of match management. It can help reduce confusion when a team needs to alter shape or behavior between phases. It can also help coaches reinforce set strategic priorities—such as how to respond to an opponent’s build-up or how to adjust pressing intensity—without requiring players to piece together verbal coaching alone. In fast-moving, high-stakes tournament matches, clearer communication can be the difference between executing a plan and drifting into the wrong tempo.
The policy also highlights the role of the staff around the head coach. Laptops require operators, prepared materials, and quick coordination with the sideline group so that information can be shown promptly during water breaks. That suggests teams may already be equipped to handle the logistics, and the permission essentially confirms that tournament officials will allow this method.
In the end, the story is about a small but meaningful shift in World Cup matchday operations: head coaches, including Pochettino, can now use laptops during water breaks to provide tactical instructions. The Athletic frames the development as an official green light, with Pochettino’s use during the USA–Senegal match serving as a real example of the policy in action. Source: The Athletic
USMNT Only: BREAKING: Mauricio Pochettino and other national team head coaches have been given the green light to use laptops to provide their players with tactical instructions during water breaks at the World Cup, per The Athletic 💻 Pochettino took advantage during USA-Senegal 🇺🇸. #breaking
— @usmntonly May 1, 2026
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