RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 6 sourcesThe 2026 World Cup ended on a brutal note for the USMNT, but US Soccer isn’t looking to make any change regarding Mauricio Pochettino at head coach.
The Americans crashed out of the most recent World Cup Round of 16 against Belgium with a 4-1 defeat. However, the USMNT appears content with its current leadership despite the all-time embarrassing result.
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US Soccer reveals that Pochettino is returning for four more years at the helm as the team’s head coach. The USMNT initially hired the Argentine manager in 2024 as part of the rebuilding process leading into the World Cup.
The Americans opted to fire previous coach Gregg Berhalter nearly two years before the World Cup in America. However, Pochettino’s run as manager hasn’t exactly yielded the type of success that USA fans want either.
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Now, US Soccer’s move puts the federation in a win-now mode more than ever before leading into the 2030 World Cup.
USMNT gambles on second Pochettino term
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino during World Cup training. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Kirby Lee Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters (Reuters) The USMNT simply cannot afford another World Cup disaster like the team experienced on home soil this summer.
Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and a host of other USA mainstays aren’t even locks to be on the American squad in four years. The Americans boasted one of the easier pathways to making a deep, successful run in 2026.
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However, the 4-1 loss against Belgium now sets Pochettino and Co. back massively leading up to the 2030 tournament in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
America passes up on change
Christian Pulisic and Max Arfsten of the U.S. embrace after the match following their World Cup elimination. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Troy Wayrynen Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters (Reuters) The Americans won’t have the same luxury of playing on home soil and being a fan favorite at the next World Cup. That’s why Pochettino’s contract extension is a bit disheartening as the USMNT heads into another major tournament in four years.
It’s unlikely that the U.S. squad would find a bigger name that Pochettino. However, America needs a coach that will buckle down and prevent the needless mistakes that cost them in 2026 from happening again.
The Belgium game highlighted many of those inexcusable errors that ultimately sent Pulisic and Co. packing. However, the players claim just as much of the blame and the next few years will be a big test to see how resilient they are before the next World Cup.
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