FIFA World Cup 2026: US Soccer to hold talks with coach Pochenttino over post-WC future
New York, July 8
US Soccer will be holding talks with head coach Mauricio Pochettino over his future with the men's national side after the co-hosts crashed out of the ongoing FIFA World Cup with a shambolic 4-1 loss to Belgium in their round of 16 clash at Seattle.
The 54-year-old Argentina coach will be completing his contract with US Soccer after the tournament, and there has been speculation around his future following a disappointing end to the WC campaign, during which the US had expected to go far on their home soil. However, despite the restoration of star player Flo Balogun after his red card was taken back by FIFA in a highly controversial move, nothing worked for the US during the match as Romelu Lukaku and Charles De Ketelaere were among the top stars for Belgium.
The federation, as per Reuters, said that it has held "positive conversations" about the tournament run and both sides have agreed to talk about the future direction of US Soccer, as far as the position of head coach is concerned.
"We have a great deal of respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone part of the program," U.S. Soccer said in a statement on Tuesday as quoted by Reuters.
US Soccer hired the former Tottenham Hotspur, Paris St Germain and Chelsea manager in September 2024, aiming to turn the team into serious World Cup contenders. However, the way the US lost their Belgium round of 16 clash will leave the federation with a difficult task ahead in the coming months, to assess if Pochenttino is the right person to continue in the next cycle leading up to the 2030 World Cup or not.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Pochettino is a world-class manager, no doubt. But when you look at the US performance, it wasn't just tactics—the players seemed nervous and lacked composure. Belgium were clinical. I think the federation should give him another cycle; sacking him now would be like what we see in European clubs, too reactive. Give him time! ⚽
Wait, so the US 'restored' Balogun after a red card controversy? That's like what we see in IPL sometimes—decisions that make you raise an eyebrow. Anyway, 4-1 loss is a thrashing, no matter how you spin it. They need a coach who can handle pressure, and maybe the players need more exposure to big games. Pochettino has the resume, but results matter.
As someone who follows US soccer closely, this loss stings but isn't the end of the world. Pochettino was hired to build a culture, and I think he did that—the team played with more identity than before. The Belgium game was just one bad day. If they let him go, they risk losing continuity. Stick with him for the next cycle. 🇺🇸
Honestly, I don't understand why there's so much drama. The US wasn't expected to win the World Cup; making it to the round of 16 is decent. Belgium has world-class players like Lukaku. The problem is American media building unrealistic expectations. Pochettino should stay—he's a proven manager. Give him a proper chance! 🙏
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