Pochettino mum on USMNT future after Belgium loss
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Mauricio Pochettino refused to discuss his future at his postgame news conference, saying 'now is not a moment to talk about that' after the U.S. was eliminated 4-1 by Belgium on Monday in Seattle.
- Pochettino's contract expires after this World Cup, and U.S. Soccer had reportedly approached him about an extension before the tournament began.
- The United States has now been eliminated at the round-of-16 stage in four of the past five World Cups, per the article's framing.
- Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, said he feels proud of two years leading the Americans and believes there is now 'the perfect mindset' within the player pool.
- Pochettino expressed confidence the current roster's nucleus will pair well with younger players rising up, urging fans to 'keep believing in that process' regardless of who coaches at the 2030 World Cup.
- Pulisic addressed reporters separately, saying he was 'disappointed in myself' after the defeat, per a linked sidebar.
Why it matters: U.S. Soccer faces a coaching decision immediately after a fourth round-of-16 exit in five World Cups, with Pochettino's contract expiring now and his long-rumored preference for elite club management unresolved. Whether the federation extends Pochettino or starts a search will shape the development path for the young American core he highlighted as the team's biggest asset.
