Alexi Lalas says Pochettino USMNT return would be indefensible
Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas argues Mauricio Pochettino should not return as U.S. men's national team manager after a 4-1 Round of 16 loss to Belgium, calling the World Cup exit an abject failure. FOX Sports insider Doug McIntyre agrees, saying an extension after such a calamity would be an own goal. With Pochettino's contract expiring and U.S. Soccer discussing a possible run through 2030, the federation faces a high-stakes decision backed by billionaire philanthropy.
Key Takeaways
- Alexi Lalas told talkSPORT the Pochettino cycle has run its course after the 4-1 Belgium loss in Seattle.
- FOX Sports' Doug McIntyre called rewarding Pochettino with an extension an own goal after a profound calamity.
- Pochettino's roughly $6 million salary was largely funded by billionaire Ken Griffin and other benefactors in 2024.
- U.S. Soccer has agreed to continue extension talks but has made no public decision on his future.
- Lalas said fan goodwill from the tournament does not erase accountability for how the team exited.
Why does Alexi Lalas want Pochettino to leave?
Speaking to talkSPORT on July 11, 2026, Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas said Pochettino needed to go almost immediately when asked about the coach's future. He pointed to the United States' embarrassing 4-1 Round of 16 defeat to Belgium as the decisive moment.
"When it comes to Mauricio Pochettino, you had one job. And it was the game against Belgium," Lalas said. He added that U.S. Soccer should move on even though Pochettino "had a good time" in charge.
What did insiders call the World Cup exit?
Lalas labeled the result an abject failure, saying the team picked the worst possible day to play its worst possible game. He said the run did not completely negate everything the team achieved, but much of the goodwill and many fans who came into the tent are now left shaking their heads.
According to Yahoo Sports, FOX Sports' Doug McIntyre made a parallel case. "Hiring Pochettino was a coup for U.S. Soccer," McIntyre wrote. "Rewarding him with an extension on the heels of such a profound calamity would be an even bigger own goal." McIntyre argued a manager who lost that way on home soil for Argentina would likely be fired the same night.
How did billionaire backing bring Pochettino to Team USA?
Before the Belgium collapse, securing Pochettino was itself a marquee move. As Fox Business reported, Citadel founder Ken Griffin provided the largest philanthropic contribution among benefactors who helped hire the Argentine in 2024.
Pochettino's base salary exceeds $6 million annually based on U.S. Soccer Federation tax filings, a sharp jump from his predecessor. Griffin told The Wall Street Journal that Pochettino brings excellence and high standards U.S. Soccer needed. That kind of net worth and wealth backing helped U.S. Soccer land one of world soccer's most prominent managers.
What happens to Pochettino's contract now?
Pochettino's deal expires this summer after nearly two years in charge. The New York Post reported he previously coached Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, and could receive an extension through the 2030 World Cup cycle.
U.S. Soccer said it agreed to continue discussing a possible extension, though neither side has announced a final call. Lalas said an inquiry is rightfully holding the team and coach to account. Whether U.S. Soccer listens to its star analyst or doubles down on its $6 million bet will define the next World Cup cycle.