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Does Poch stay or go?

Posted on 7/6/26 at 10:59 pm
Posted by Linoge
Member since Jun 2013
1990 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 10:59 pm
From USA Today:

SEATTLE — U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino said he is "so happy" in his current position, following the USMNT's elimination from the World Cup.

The USMNT's World Cup journey ended with a thud on Monday, as Belgium dominated Pochettino's side 4-1 at Lumen Field in the round of 16.

Pochettino's contract is up at the end of this World Cup and he has been widely expected to move on after the tournament.

But in his postgame press conference, Pochettino indicated he would be open to staying on past the World Cup.

“Now, because we were talking with the federation, [it's time] to rest a little bit, to think, to have conversation, and then see what the decision is from the federation and from us," the Argentine said."

But a report in The Athletic last month said that before this tournament, U.S. Soccer offered Pochettino an extension that would take him through the 2030 World Cup.

However, the report said the coach and his staff wouldn't make any decision until after the 2026 tournament. That's in line with what Pochettino told reporters at a roundtable last month, when he said he is "open" to staying with the U.S. but also not rushing to make a decision.

"Now we're focused on the World Cup. Then, if we want to stay, we have months to talk, or days or weeks. Because it's four years until the next World Cup," Pochettino said in late June.

Edited to add full story:

Poch decision
This post was edited on 7/6/26 at 11:06 pm
Posted by magildachunks
Member since Oct 2006
36553 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:02 pm to
Pay the man to stay.



He is the answer. The Argentine Moses that will lead us to the promised land.
Posted by GoShoughYourself
Member since May 2026
45 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:02 pm to
He must be fired

Posted by magildachunks
Member since Oct 2006
36553 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:07 pm to
quote:

He must be fired


Posted by cwil177
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
29906 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:08 pm to
It’s not my money and he’s probably better than anyone else we will get. Unfortunately we still tapped out at the same level we always do while looking shittier in other competitions (gold cup, nations league), arguably with better talent. But this was far and away the worst round of 16 game we’ve ever played and that will undoubtedly color my thoughts for a while.
Posted by JerryTheKingBawler
South of Memphis
Member since Jan 2023
8955 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:10 pm to
Fire Poch, sign Pep
Posted by GeorgeTheGreek
Sparta, Greece
Member since Mar 2008
69430 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:10 pm to
We had momentum with a home World Cup, but in reality, I’m not sure what he’s done to warrant any special attention.

We under performed in Copa America and were bounced as usual in the round of 16 in the World Cup … with home field advantage. I don’t feel strongly that he needs to be retained.
Posted by magildachunks
Member since Oct 2006
36553 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:12 pm to
quote:

don’t feel strongly that he needs to be retained.



Who should we replace him with?
Posted by Whodattiger14
Member since Dec 2019
381 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:12 pm to
He probably needs to go. We can get this result for far cheaper
Posted by GoShoughYourself
Member since May 2026
45 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:13 pm to
You must be happy with failure

You’re the perfect USAMNT fan!

Congrats!
Posted by GeorgeTheGreek
Sparta, Greece
Member since Mar 2008
69430 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:15 pm to
Well, I don’t know the candidate pool but you could hire Arenas, Bradley and Berhalter and get the same results apparently. I don’t think the bar for potential hires is extraordinarily high.
Posted by The Pirate King
Pangu
Member since May 2014
69208 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:16 pm to
I can't speak to Poch's desires, but the US Soccer decision should come down to two factors

1) Is he all-in through the next World Cup, including improving the farm systems and development for US Soccer?

2) If we don't retain him, does US Soccer plan to go after another MLS-level coach?

The overall results haven't been great, but there were positive signs given the turd sandwiches he has to pick from.
Posted by WicKed WayZ
Louisiana Forever
Member since Sep 2011
34242 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:21 pm to
Eh. I’d say give him another cycle. He made the right adjustments in this game. It’s not his fault our guys shite down their legs.
Posted by RemouladeSawce
Uranus
Member since Sep 2008
18327 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:30 pm to
The list of in-prime managers who are willing to take 4 years off from their club careers to coach an afterthought national team is not particularly large. It's kind of wild we got him for 2 years and he would even consider more

Since we're likely to host the 2028 Copa America, a middle ground is we give him another 4 year contract and make the 2030 call based off of it
Posted by tigerfan88
Member since Jan 2008
9207 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:33 pm to
We also looked significantly better in every game leading up to this one.

Our performances against Paraguay/australia/Bosnia were some of the best we’ve ever had in a WC.

And ultimately this was the same result we had in the round of 16, but we didn’t actually play any better against Netherlands or Belgium our last two times out. We just bunkered and technically lost by less.

We had a shitty performance and we were still an all time Matt Freese frick up away from a competitive game against Belgium
Posted by magildachunks
Member since Oct 2006
36553 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:44 pm to
quote:

Well, I don’t know the candidate pool but you could hire Arenas, Bradley and Berhalter and get the same results apparently. I don’t think the bar for potential hires is extraordinarily high.



He took over the team that Berhalter put together and ultimately got him fired for disappointing results.

He inherited a mess and made it respectable.



He also holds the record for all time World Cup wins for a US coach.

Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
82571 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:46 pm to
quote:

He made the right adjustments in this game


No he didn't.

Just because we had more of the ball when we were chasing the game, doesn't mean he made the correct adjustments.

Again, we had one shot on target from the run of play and it came when we were already down 3-1 midway through the second half and it only happened because a Belgium defender took a bad route to a ball and Balogun won the foot race.

We created nothing all night long.

This performance was on par with Gregg getting outcoached by LVG in this same spot in 2022.
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
82571 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:48 pm to
quote:

He inherited a mess and made it respectable.



How so?

He didn't make the Nations League final for the first time in the tournament's existence, ended our winning streak against Mexico, didn't win Gold Cup and got bounced in the same spot of the World Cup that the last three USMNT coaches did... only this one was on home soil.
This post was edited on 7/6/26 at 11:50 pm
Posted by RemouladeSawce
Uranus
Member since Sep 2008
18327 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:59 pm to
quote:

Just because we had more of the ball when we were chasing the game, doesn't mean he made the correct adjustments
What are the correct adjustments when everyone in the XI has the yips and shits their pants every other touch

The players were a level of arse tonight that makes tactics moot
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
82571 posts
Posted on 7/6/26 at 11:59 pm to
They were arse and seeing ghosts because Poch got the tactics all wrong to open the match and Belgium knew everything we were doing.

They took Pulisic out of the match, played balls over our press unlike every other team trying to play through our press and we had no idea how to adjust to that.
This post was edited on 7/7/26 at 12:01 am
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