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When Mauricio Pochettino was hired as head coach of the US men’s national team just under two years ago, it was widely seen as a blow to American soccer.
Pochettino brought an outside perspective, a clear departure from Gregg Berhalter, whose coaching experience was primarily in MLS. He had coached players at the highest level of European competition, with stints at Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and Chelsea, back in the EPL.
His tenure got off to a bit of a rocky start, then in the biggest tournament before the World Cup, his USMNT lost 2-1 in the Gold Cup final to Mexico. Although with some controversial arbitration decisions in favor of Mexico.
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Head coach Mauricio Pochettino watches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D match between the United States and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium in Los Angeles, California on June 12, 2026. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
But as with most national team managers, Pochettino was always going to be judged based on the USMNT’s performance at the 2026 World Cup. And there it is, well, a bit of a mixed bag. The first game against Paraguay in Los Angeles was amazing. A dominant 4-1 victory, playing an aggressive, attacking style of soccer with composure, coordination and outstanding movement virtually never before seen on an American team.
They beat Australia 2-0, before losing a meaningless match against Türkiye in which substitutes replaced most of the starters. Advancing from the group stage was one thing, but winning it in dominant fashion was another. Still, the knockout stage has been yet another hurdle for the USMNT to overcome, and perhaps the most encouraging sign so far is that they did so with ease.
Yes, Bosnia and Herzegovina were out-talented, but the resilience the team showed after star Florian Balogun was sent off with a controversial red card was impressive. Just like Malik Tillman’s high-profile free kick goal. That victory created arguably the biggest opportunity for a USMNT team in decades: beating Belgium in a World Cup at home to advance to the quarterfinals.
We all know how that turned out. A devastating 4-1 loss, in which the USMNT somehow returned to the form most long-time fans are familiar with. Poor coordination, atrocious play on defense, too many turnovers by the team’s best players, and unforgivable, unforgivable mistakes.
Christian Pulisic of the United States is consoled by Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States, after being substituted during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
So how do you judge Pochettino’s performance? Well, that’s exactly what US Soccer has to do. And they issued a statement after his exit from the World Cup, apparently implying that they want him back and that the decision rests with him.
“We had positive conversations with Mauricio before the World Cup about the future,” the statement said. “We agreed that we would continue those conversations after having the opportunity to rest and reflect after the World Cup. We have great respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone who is part of the program. We have shared enthusiasm about our potential and we have also shared clarity about the amount of work at all levels that is still required to achieve our ambition.”
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Pochettino himself said that he intends to take some time to think about his future and what the federation wants.
“In the next few weeks we can start talking if the federation wants to talk,” he said after the game. “Now it’s about resting a little, thinking, having conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I’m very happy. We’ve built a very good relationship. Now is not a time to talk about that. [my future]”.
He will certainly have options, whether in the Premier League, in Italy or elsewhere. But retaining Pochettino should be a top priority for US Soccer.
His halftime adjustments got the USMNT back into the game, and it’s no fault of his own that 38-year-old Tim Ream was the best center back available. Or that the starting goalkeeper literally kicked the ground while trying to clear the ball, which led directly into the Belgian goal. While there is justifiable frustration at being eliminated once again in the round of 16, it is clear that the group of American players is the best it has ever been. And getting better.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino watches during the international friendly match between the United States and Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 31, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
There are many structural issues to address regarding how soccer is coached and managed at the youth level, which falls more on US Soccer than the USMNT head coach. But in terms of team selection, development and tactics, there aren’t many coaching options available that would be a better fit for the United States. Aside from extremely unlikely moves to someone like Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti or Jurgen Klopp. And Klopp is already immersed in talks to take charge of the German team after another disastrous exit.
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This is a crucial time for American soccer and it is extremely important to do well in the next cycle. I hope they do.
