Mauricio Pochettino’s dreams of being the first USA manager to win the World Cup are over, and his weaknesses from being in charge of Chelsea have come back to bite him again.
Pochettino’s side were dumped out 4-1 by Belgium in the Round of 16, despite the boost of Chelsea transfer target Folarin Balogun having his red card controversially overturned.
It was former Blue Romelu Lukaku who had the final say with a late goal, as USA struggled at the first sign of a decent European side facing them this summer.
Chelsea fans, share your expectations for Xabi Alonso! 🏆
Xabi Alonso graphic
Credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty
Mauricio Pochettino exposed as USA eliminated from the World Cup
During the group stages, no side ran further than the US, a staple of Pochettino’s game which looked suited to a tournament where hydration breaks gave them two extra breaks a game.
Ultimately though, this was an intensity they couldn’t keep up, and now Belgium are the only side to have covered more distance than them in the tournament.
USA v Belgium: Round of 16 - FIFA World Cup 2026
Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images
An injury-prone Christian Pulisic also couldn’t handle this intense style of play. He was forced off twice in the competition, leaving them a massive void in terms of creativity and goal threat.
USA were unable to create a single big chance in their defeat, with their goal coming via a heavily deflected free-kick.
Pochettino was accused of being unable to beat the big teams during his time at Stamford Bridge, and although Belgium are no longer seen as one of the big dogs of international football, it was far too big a challenge for the Argentine to overcome.
What is a fair price for Malo Gusto? 💸
BlueCo are proving stubborn.
Pochettino breaks unwanted 36-year record
The 4-1 defeat to Belgium is the largest suffered by the US at a World Cup since 1990, a damning indictment of how they are still not at the level required in international football.
There were drastic improvements under their new manager, with supporters won over by Pochettino’s style of play.
He was a very popular manager in the Chelsea dressing room too, although the chiefs at the club determined he was not the man required to take the project forwards.
The national team will face a challenge to keep hold of the Argentine as another club season comes around, with plenty of top European sides still without a manager.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox