Former U.S. defender and current Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas believes head coach Mauricio Pochettino should not remain with the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) following their World Cup Round of 16 elimination. Lalas described the team's 4-1 loss to Belgium as an "abject failure" and stated that Pochettino's "cycle has run its course."
In an interview with talkSPORT, Lalas asserted that Pochettino "had one job" – to win the match against Belgium. He suggested that advancing past Belgium would have put the team in a position to potentially challenge Spain in the next round. "When it comes to Mauricio Pochettino, you had one job. And it was the game against Belgium. You win that game, then you’re in some rarefied air," Lalas said.
Pochettino's contract is set to expire this summer, but discussions are ongoing with U.S. Soccer regarding a potential extension that could keep him through the 2030 World Cup cycle. Neither Pochettino nor U.S. Soccer has made a definitive decision public. U.S. Soccer released a statement expressing "great deal of respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone part of the program," while also acknowledging "clarity about the amount of work at all levels still required to achieve our ambition."
Pochettino, 54, was initially seen as a high-profile hire, having previously coached top European clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, and managed renowned players such as Lionel Messi and Harry Kane. Despite leading the U.S. to a thrilling run to the Round of 16, the team's performance against Belgium, a game described as a coin-flip, left many disappointed.
"It’s one thing to go out to Belgium, it’s another thing to go out in the way they went out, especially with the way that they looked through the tournament," Lalas commented. "They picked the worst possible day to play their worst possible game. It’s obviously on Mauricio Pochettino and these players." He added that while the loss "doesn't completely negate everything they did," much of the public goodwill generated by the team's earlier performance has waned, and an "inquiry" into the team and coach's accountability is justified.