Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of the US national team, admitted that his team did not perform as expected during their heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, stressing that his side was not at its best and that the controversy before the match was not the reason for their exit from the tournament.

The US team entered the match backed by their fans in Seattle, having put in strong performances in the group stage and round of 32, but Belgium imposed their superiority and sealed the game with four goals to one.

Pochettino said in the post-match press conference: 'We didn't show our true quality as a team, and we failed to get into the rhythm of the match. Belgium were better and deserved to win.'

He added: 'It was a very bad day, both collectively and individually. In a tournament like the World Cup, any dip in form in the knockout stages means the end of the road.'

The equalizer did not change the course of the match.

The Argentine coach noted that his team failed to capitalize on the equalizer that briefly restored hope, after Malik Tillman scored the equalizer, before Belgium quickly regained control.

He explained: 'Even after we scored the equalizer, we conceded another goal immediately, and we were unable to build on that moment.'

No excuses over Balogun controversy

Pochettino refused to link his team's performance to the pre-match controversy over Folarin Balogun's participation, after FIFA suspended his ban despite objections from the Belgian federation.

He said: 'We weren't good enough today, and I'm not looking for excuses. Everything happening off the field was just side events and did not affect the team.'

Uncertainty surrounds his future

Regarding his future with the US team, Pochettino clarified that his contract ends with the conclusion of the World Cup, noting that a decision on his continued tenure has not been finalized.

He said: 'Now it's time to rest a little, then we will sit down for talks, and after that we will see the decision the federation makes and what we decide as well.'

Despite the tournament exit, Pochettino affirmed that the US team made significant progress over the past period, emphasizing that what has been built represents a foundation for the future.

He concluded: 'We must continue to develop, but I am proud of what the players have done. I think we have laid the groundwork that can be built upon in the coming years.'