Pochettino's 2030 World Cup Expectations

Following Pochettino's contract extension, Lalas emphasized that the USMNT's success hinges on winning crucial knockout matches, particularly the round of 16 games. "When it comes to Mauricio Pochettino and his job and role, it was to win the game against Belgium, and in that moment, he and this team failed," Lalas stated on his podcast.

Looking ahead, Lalas expressed support for keeping Pochettino through the upcoming cycle, including competitions like the Concacaf Nations League, Gold Cup, and possibly the 2028 Copa América. "I think Mauricio Pochettino is fine. I think that he will be a better coach this cycle than he was last cycle," Lalas said, though he stressed the importance of commitment through the 2030 tournament. raccoongame.org