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When Mauricio Pochettino was hired as head coach of the US men’s national team almost two years ago, it was widely seen as a coup for American soccer.
Pochettino brought an outside perspective, a marked departure from Gregg Berhalter, whose managerial experience was mostly 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 rocky start as, in the biggest pre-World Cup tournament, his USMNT lost 2-1 in the Gold Cup final to Mexico. Albeit with some controversial refereeing decisions going Mexico’s way.
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Head coach Mauricio Pochettino looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA 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’s a bit of a mixed bag. The first game against Paraguay in Los Angeles was amazing. A dominant 4-1 victory that played a brand of aggressive, attacking soccer with composure, coordination and exceptional movement virtually never seen before from an American team.
They handled Australia 2-0 before dropping a meaningless game against Turkey with backups replacing most starters. Getting out of the group stage was one thing, but winning it in dominant fashion was another. Still, the knockout stage has been another hurdle for the USMNT to overcome, and in perhaps the most encouraging sign yet, they did so with ease.
Yes, Bosnia and Herzegovina were short on talent, but the resilience the team showed after star Florian Balogun was sent off with a controversial red card was impressive. So was the top-level free kick goal from Malik Tillman. That victory created arguably the biggest opportunity for a USMNT team in decades: beating Belgium in a home World Cup 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 longtime fans are familiar with. Poor coordination, atrocious backline play, too many dropped balls from the team’s best players and unforgivable, unforgivable mistakes.
Christian Pulisic of the United States is comforted by Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States, after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 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 rate Pochettino’s performance? Well, that’s exactly what American football needs to do. And they issued a statement after their World Cup exit, seemingly suggesting they want him back and that the decision rests with him.
“We had positive talks with Mauricio before the World Cup about the future,” the statement said. “We agreed that we would continue these talks after a chance 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 excitement about our potential and 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 spend some time thinking about his future and what the association wants.
“In the next few weeks we can start talking if the federation wants to talk,” he said after the game. “Right now it’s about resting a bit, thinking, having conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I’m so happy. We’ve built a very good relationship. Now there’s not a moment to talk about. [my future].”
He will certainly have opportunities, whether it’s back in the Premier League, or in Italy or elsewhere. But keeping Pochettino should be a top priority for American soccer.
His adjustments at halftime brought the USMNT back into contention, and it doesn’t occur to him that 38-year-old Tim Ream was the best available center back. Or that the starting goalkeeper literally kicked the ground as he tried to clear the ball, leading directly to a Belgian goal. While there is legitimate frustration at going out in the Round of 16 again, it’s clear that the American player pool is the best it’s ever been. And getting better.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino looks on 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 with how soccer is coached and administered at the youth level that fall 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 choice for the US. Outside of extremely unlikely swings on someone like Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti or Jurgen Klopp. And Klopp is already deep in negotiations to take over the German national team after another disastrous exit.
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This is a crucial time for American football and getting the next cycle right is extremely important. Hopefully they do.
