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Pochettino Takes Blame for U.S. World Cup Exit After Belgium Loss
🇨🇱 Chile /Sports

Pochettino Takes Blame for U.S. World Cup Exit After Belgium Loss

From Cooperativa · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • United States coach Mauricio Pochettino took responsibility for the team's 4-1 loss to Belgium and their elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
  • Pochettino admitted Belgium was the better team and that the U.S. "never played well" and "never were in the game."
  • He cited the team's inability to perform as they had in previous World Cup matches as a reason for the defeat, calling it a learning process.

United States coach Mauricio Pochettino shouldered the blame for the team's disappointing 4-1 defeat against Belgium, which resulted in their elimination from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16. Pochettino stated that Belgium deserved the victory and acknowledged his responsibility for the team's subpar performance.

Belgium was better than us, and we congratulate them. They deserved it. I am responsible for this poor football.

— Mauricio PochettinoCoach's assessment after the match.

"Belgium was better than us, and we congratulate them. They deserved it. I am responsible for this poor football," Pochettino commented after the match in Seattle. He further elaborated on the team's struggles, noting, "We did not play well. We were never in the game, not even when we tied. From the beginning, we could not participate in the game at all."

We did not play well. We were never in the game, not even when we tied. From the beginning, we could not participate in the game at all.

— Mauricio PochettinoDescribing the team's performance during the match.

The coach expressed frustration with his team's inability to replicate their earlier World Cup form. "This is a learning process. We did not play the game in the same way as the rest of the World Cup. There are different reasons. Perhaps the explanation is too easy. We have to check what we did," he added. Pochettino also conveyed that he was "frustrated" and "very disappointed with the people who should have understood the situation and have confused things," though the context of this remark remained unclear.

This is a learning process. We did not play the game in the same way as the rest of the World Cup. There are different reasons. Perhaps the explanation is too easy. We have to check what we did.

— Mauricio PochettinoReflecting on the team's performance and the reasons for defeat.

The loss marks a significant setback for the U.S. team under Pochettino's leadership. The coach's candid admission of responsibility signals a critical evaluation of the team's performance and strategy moving forward. The focus now shifts to understanding the underlying issues that led to their early exit from the tournament.

I am frustrated and very disappointed with the people who should have understood the situation and have confused things.

— Mauricio PochettinoExpressing disappointment with unspecified individuals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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