According to journalist Tom Bogert, Mauricio Pochettino says he thinks Christian Pulisic twisted his ankle, but he hopes it is not serious and he will be able to reintegrate with AC Milan ahead of the 2026-27 season.

This leaves both USA and AC Milan fans somewhat relieved that they will count on the star, who will arrive downcast but hungry for glory and fighting to reach the next World Cup with the USMNT.

What is next for USA and Christian Pulisic?

On one hand, they are left to be spectators and continue enjoying the World Cup they are hosting, while Belgium and Spain already have a confirmed date and venue for their matchup. On the side of the USMNT, the future is uncertain, especially the continuity of Pochettino, who had them excited at the beginning.

Mauricio Pochettino‘s future is unsettled. Multiple reports before the tournament said U.S. Soccer had offered Pochettino a contract extension through 2030, but both sides opted to wait until the run ended to decide.

Whoever takes the job will not be busy right away. The U.S. currently has no matches announced before the September FIFA window. That gives the federation time to reset and to see which veterans move on. Tim Ream is 38 and near the end. Christian Pulisic, 27, along with younger players Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Tim Weah, is a group that can carry it forward.

Hosting this World Cup came with an automatic bye. For 2030 in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, the Americans will have to qualify through CONCACAF, something they have not had to grind through since 2022. The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles offer one more home stage before they have to focus on the next World Cup on the road.

Speaking after the match, Pochettino said, “We need to learn why we didn’t approach the match the same way we did the rest of the World Cup. I am responsible. We have to look at what we did, because it wasn’t the level of performance we usually deliver.”

Right now, no declaration will bring peace to the USMNT faithful, but the fact is the manager is blaming no one but himself. Self-criticism is key for growth, although now the USA is filled with bitter feelings after getting eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

Pochettino defied and confirmed doubters during the 2026 World Cup

Mauricio Pochettino didn’t have the biggest backers before the 2026 World Cup started. However, during the first four games, he silenced all the doubters as the USMNT displayed brilliant soccer filled with dynamism, pace, and goalscoring prowess.

But then this game vs Belgium happened and all the doubts came back flying. Losing a tactical battle to Rudi Garcia is not the best of looks, and the USMNT just looked completely lost, anxious, and totally out of sync.

The USMNT couldn’t tie their best result in modern-era World Cup

In 2002, the USMNT managed to get all the way to the quarterfinals. The hope was that this version of the team could at least tie that result, or maybe even more. However, it won’t happen and the USMNT will have to wait for the next World Cup to try and do it.

Pochettino noted that he was not personally involved in the process to overturn Balogun’s red card. “The Federation was working very hard,” Pochettino said during his pre-match press conference. “JT (Batson, the chief executive of U.S. Soccer) and the whole Federation were trying to defend our situation. I was not involved and focused on the team preparing for Belgium.

“This is good for soccer, to celebrate. If in the next game an unfair thing happens, you can reverse the decision. From a decision that is slow motion, which is not the reality of what happened on the pitch.” The manager also celebrated having Balogun available for the high-stakes clash. “My reaction is like everyone’s. I love the sport and trust the ethical integrity of it. We celebrate the decision.”

Why was Balogun sent off?

Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun scored the opener for the U.S., but he was shown a red card in the 64th minute following a lengthy VAR review for a hard challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. Despite the ejection, the U.S. held on to see out a 2-0 victory.

Keeping Balogun on the pitch is vital as the U.S. are trying to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 2002. If the Americans beat Belgium on Monday, they will face the winner of the Round of 16 matchup between Spain and Portugal.

Rudi Garcia’s comments

To provide more context, Rudi Garcia was visibly upset by FIFA’s actions and the ultimate decision. “I didn’t know that at the World Cup the 5th of July is actually the first of April. It’s April Fools,” Garcia told reporters, taking a sarcastic jab at the situation. “We’re not defending the national team or federation, we are defending soccer.”

Interestingly, the reversal was a solo move by soccer’s governing body; under FIFA regulations, the USA were actually barred from filing an official appeal to begin with. Despite his clear frustration, Garcia insisted that Belgium remain entirely locked in on the task at hand, regardless of who features for the Americans.

“Anyway, I’m the coach, so I’m going to focus on my team and the match — it doesn’t matter who makes up the USA’s starting lineup,” Garcia added. “What matters to me is the pitch, my team, winning, and reaching the quarterfinals.”

“Everything is possible, why not us?,” Pochettino said to a reporter during his postgame interview at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

The U.S. Men’s National Team knows its potential path to the 2026 World Cup final, and it will be far from a walk in the park. Still, the Americans won’t back down. For the time being, though, the Stars and Stripes must first deal with Belgium, and they already know when and where the Round of 16 game will be played.

Pochettino makes USMNT history

Thanks to the goals scored by Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the U.S. Men’s National Team secured its third win of the 2026 World Cup. With that, Pochettino has become the winningest USA manager in FIFA World Cup history.

However, all he cares about is the next game, in which the Stars and Stripes will once again be facing elimination, this time against a tougher side than Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What’s next for the USMNT?

After knocking Bosnia and Herzegovina out of the 2026 World Cup, the USMNT will take on Belgium at Seattle Stadium. The Americans will be without their leading goalscorer in the tournament, Folarin Balogun, after he was shown a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Christian Pulisic lamented Balogun’s red card, but the team is still optimistic.

If the United States defeat Belgium, they will advance to the quarterfinals. The last time they reached that stage was in 2002. However, the U.S. have never won a World Cup quarterfinal. Still, they can’t get ahead of themselves.

“[Pulisic] was training individually the whole week. Tonight, we have a meeting with our medical staff,” Pochettino revealed, as reported by Ben Jacobs on X. “We will assess the whole group, and tomorrow we will communicate [if he’s going to play]. He’s evolving and much better from Friday.“

Coming off a superb team performance during the USA’s 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup debut—in which Pulisic was subbed off at the break—the USMNT is ready to put on another outing for the ages against the Socceroos.

However, whether Pulisic is available or not could play a major role. Still, Pochettino has the utmost confidence in the rest of the squad, and even if Pulisic is left out of the lineup as a precaution, the medical staff expect him to return sooner rather than later.

Pulisic could be back for final group-stage match

Amid the uncertainty, however, teammates Tim Weah and Tyler Adams expect Pulisic to play against Australia. Although “Poch” didn’t dare predict if Pulisic would be cleared for the showdown at Seattle Stadium, he did drop a blunt statement. If “Captain America” isn’t active against the Land Down Under, he will certainly be on the lineup to play against The Crescent Stars.

“We will see. If not available [against Australia], he’ll be back for Turkiye,” Pochettino confidently told reporters. “He’s doing a massive effort to be available. For a player that loves their country it’s a massive opportunity to play and win games. So when this happens it’s painful, but Christian is strong with a great mentality.”

For the time being, though, Pulisic’s presence versus Australia remains uncertain. What’s crystal clear, on the other hand, is that the US Men’s National Team needs him. Regardless, the Stars and Stripes can hold their ground. Against Paraguay, they proved they could do just fine without Pulisic. Still, everything feels easier when he’s on the pitch.

USMNT’s remaining fixture in 2026 World Cup

• vs Australia on June 19 at Seattle Stadium at 3:00 p.m. ET.
• vs Turkiye on June 25 at Los Angeles Stadium at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Following Monday’s training session, Jenny Taft of FOX Sports reported that Pochettino provided a positive update on Pulisic.

“Mauricio Pochettino came over to tell us he is good, so a good sign for Christian Pulisic ahead of their match against Australia on Friday,” Taft said, adding that Pulisic had a modified training and did individual work.

Pulisic’s halftime exit in USA’s 2026 World Cup debut raised concern

Pulisic stole the show in the first half of the USA’s 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, helping the team go to the break with a 3-0 lead. However, “Captain America” was nowhere to be seen in the second half.

Pochettino brought some relief by explaining that Pulisic was subbed off as a precautionary measure, pointing to a knock he suffered right before halftime.

USMNT fans breathed an even bigger collective sigh of relief when Pulisic himself provided an update, letting everyone know that it wasn’t something serious.

In fact, the former Chelsea star dared to address his availability for USA vs. Australia. Even though he couldn’t guarantee it 100%, Pulisic suggested that he’d be ready for the USA’s second group stage match.

USA’s next game will be crucial for Group D standings

The USMNT is leading Group D with 3 points and a +3 goal differential thanks to its comprehensive victory over Paraguay, followed by Australia, who upset Turkiye 2-0 on Sunday. The USA and Australia clash on Friday, June 19, at 3:00 PM (ET) at Seattle Stadium.

“He (Pulisic) received a kick at the end of the first half, started to feel tired, didn’t want to take any risks,” Pochettino said during the postgame press conference before Christian Pulisic himself provided an update. Hence, it was all about playing the long game for the manager. He didn’t want to risk losing his best player in a game where Folarin Balogun scored a brace to lead the USA to win over Paraguay.

The USMNT ended up winning comfortably as it showed an intensity Paraguay was not prepared for. Pulisic was at the forefront of that intensity. His speed was too much for Paraguay to handle and in 45 minutes, he swayed the game in USA’s direction. Now, it’s on to the next game against Australia.

This was a much-needed performance by USA

The USMNT didn’t have that much hype coming into the 2026 World Cup. In fact, it lost three of the last four games prior to the tournament starting. The team sometimes looked lost and a bit messy. That was not the case against Paraguay. The team looked like a well-oiled machine.

This also brings plenty of peace and momentum to manager Mauricio Pochettino, who was in the eye of the storm ahead of the tournament. He has reminded everyone why he was one of the most-wanted managers in Europe back in the day.

This win puts the USMNT in prime position for the 2026 World Cup KO stages

A win like this does many wonders for the USMNT. First, it puts all the competition on notice, USA is not here to play lightly, it’s an aggressive team. Then, it not only adds three points to its tally on Group D standings, but with the +3 Goal Difference, it almost secures the USA as a team that will advance to the next stage.

Additional points in the next games will all but ensure it. The USMNT is undoubtedly the most in-form World Cup team to date. Its electric performance was a sight to behold, as it came against Paraguay in what has become one of USA’s biggest wins in FIFA World Cup history. The USMNT made it look easy.

Before taking charge of the USMNT, he built his reputation across Europe with spells at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, PSG and Chelsea. His most defining chapter came at Tottenham, where he led the club to a Champions League final.

Now at the helm of the United States men’s national soccer team, he is tasked with elevating a young and talented squad (with some players born outside the USA) into a legitimate global contender. His appointment has raised expectations around the program, with rising players such as striker Folarin Balogun.

How old is Mauricio Pochettino?

Mauricio Pochettino is 54 years old, born on March 2, 1972, in Murphy, Argentina. The Argentine coach arrives at the peak of his managerial experience, combining more than a decade of work in Europe.

How tall is Mauricio Pochettino?

Mauricio Pochettino stands at 1.82 meters (around 6 feet tall). During his playing career as a centre-back, his height gave him a strong physical presence in aerial duels and defensive battles, especially in La Liga and Ligue 1.

When did Mauricio Pochettino take charge of the USA team?

Mauricio Pochettino officially became head coach of the United States Men’s National Team in September 2024, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

He replaced Gregg Berhalter after the US Soccer Federation opted for a high-profile international manager with elite European experience. Since his arrival, he has focused on rebuilding the team’s identity, expanding the player pool.

What is Mauricio Pochettino’s salary in 2026?

Mauricio Pochettino earns $6 million per year as head coach of the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) in 2026, making him one of the highest-paid national team coaches in world soccer, as USA Today reported.

His contract structure includes a base salary plus performance-related bonuses, with earlier financial disclosures showing he earned over $5 million in his first seven months in charge, combining salary and a signing bonus.

His arrival also came with unusual financial backing from external supporters, helping U.S. soccer compete with top European clubs that previously paid him significantly higher wages—reportedly $10 million per year during his time in the Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s career highlights

• Espanyol (2009–2012) – First steps as a manager: Pochettino began his coaching career at his former club Espanyol, where he quickly earned attention for his disciplined, high-pressing style. Despite limited resources, he managed to keep the team competitive in La Liga and established his identity as a tactical coach.

• Southampton (2013–2014) – Breakthrough in the Premier League: At Southampton, he made an immediate impact in English soccer, guiding the team to a top-half Premier League finish and building a reputation for developing young talent and implementing aggressive pressing soccer.

• Tottenham Hotspur (2014–2019) – Champions League finalist and elite status: His most defining spell came at Tottenham, where he transformed the club into a top-four regular in the Premier League. The highlight was reaching the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, along with a historic second-place finish in the Premier League in 2017.

• Paris Saint-Germain (2021–2022) – Domestic dominance in France: At PSG, he won major domestic trophies including Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophee des Champions, managing world-class stars like Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe.

• Chelsea (2023–2024) – Premier League rebuilding project: Pochettino led a young Chelsea squad through a transition season, improving results in the second half of the campaign and finishing in European qualification spots before departing by mutual agreement.

• United States Men’s National Team (2024–present) – World Cup 2026 mission: In 2024, he took charge of the USMNT ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, becoming the first Argentine coach in the role. His mission is to elevate the United States into a serious contender on home soil and beyond the Round of 16 barrier.

Per James Horncastle of The Athletic, Pochettino met with AC Milan representatives last week during USMNT’s camp in Georgia. AC Milan are going through a complete overhaul after a second-half season collapse that saw them miss the Champions League spots. Now they need someone to take the reins as Massimiliano Allegri was fired by the Italian club.

Pochettino’s contract with the USMNT expires after the World Cup. Hence, the 54-year-old might be seeking pastures new already, signaling that he is not interested in staying.

Mauricio Pochettino is not the only candidate for AC Milan

Horncastle also mentions in his report that Pochettino is not the frontrunner for the Milan job. That spot belongs to Andoni Iraola, who had an excellent tenure with AFC Bournemouth, but decided to leave hoping for a step up. Iraola has also been in contact with AC Milan.

Iraola and Pochettino’s style vary heavily. Andoni Iraola’s philosophy focuses on extreme verticality and aggressive pressing, whereas Mauricio Pochettino prefers a more possession-oriented and positional-play style.

Mauricio Pochettino’s stock has fallen massively

There was a time where Pochettino was looked upon as one of the best managers in world soccer. However, he had failed stints at PSG (France) and Chelsea (UK). After that, he took the job as manager of the United States, where he hasn’t impressed either.

For the USMNT, Pochettino has a record of 13 wins, two draws, and nine losses. That is not good enough for the expectations he brought when hired. Still, it seems like AC Milan are at least intrigued by the prospect of him being their new manager.

Following a lackluster 2-0 loss to a Portugal side that rested Cristiano Ronaldo, Pochettino didn’t mince words about the talent gap his squad currently faces.

“Belgium and Portugal both have players in that ‘top 100’ tier, players performing at the highest elite level. Right now, I don’t think we have that,” Pochettino told reporters. “We have to be honest about where we are if we want to bridge that gap before June.”

A depleted roster or a deeper issue?

While the results were sobering, the USMNT was far from full strength. A localized “injury crisis” in the backline forced Pochettino into experimental lineups, including playing winger Tim Weah at right-back to counter the pace of Belgium’s Jeremy Doku.

The list of absentees for the March window reads like a “who’s who” of the American starting XI:

• Chris Richards (Crystal Palace): Knee inflammation forced him out of camp.
• Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati): Groin injury sustained during training in Atlanta.
• Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven): Still sidelined with a lingering hamstring issue from early March.
• James Sands (NYCFC): Ruled out for the season; his World Cup hopes are effectively over.
• Tyler Adams (Bournemouth): The captain missed the window entirely with a quad injury.
• Antonee “Jedi” Robinson (Fulham): While in camp, the left-back was kept on a strict “minutes restriction.”

Despite the “growing talent” narrative often touted by U.S. Soccer, conceding five goals to Belgium and failing to find the net against Portugal’s B-team highlights a lack of depth that could prove fatal in the group stages.

The road to the final 26

The clock is officially ticking. Pochettino now has less than two months to evaluate his options before the May 30 deadline to submit his final World Cup roster.

Insiders expect the formal announcement to come between May 26 and May 28, just ahead of the team’s final tune-up matches against Senegal and Germany. For the players on the bubble, the “reality check” in Atlanta may have been the final deciding factor in whether they make the flight to the World Cup opener.

“If I’m the player, I say, ‘Why are you calling me with bad news?’” Pochettino said regarding the upcoming roster cuts. “If they need to call me, I am very open to explaining… but of course, it’s going to be a very sad process making these decisions.”

The atmosphere around the squad is growing increasingly tense. Between USMNT legend Landon Donovan publicly questioning teenager Noahkai Banks’ commitment after he declined a recent call-up, and the fallout from this five-goal collapse, Pochettino is navigating a locker room under fire just months before the tournament kicks off.

Even former manager Gregg Berhalter, now with the Chicago Fire, noted Pochettino’s previous bold claims to Donald Trump that the U.S. can win it all. After the Belgian masterclass, however, the U.S. status as a tournament favorite is facing its harshest scrutiny yet.

Who is missing from the camp?

Pochettino’s recent comments have cast a long shadow over several regular starters who were left out of this international window. Whether due to injury or tactical preference, the following players face a steep climb back into the World Cup picture:

• The medical room: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth, quad), Sergino Dest (PSV, hamstring), Haji Wright (Coventry City, groin), and James Sands (NYCFC, ankle surgery) all remain sidelined.
• Fitness concerns: Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
• Tactical shocks: Yunus Musah (Atalanta).
• The “fringe” list: Lennard Maloney, Kristoffer Lund, Patrick Agyemang and Folarin Balogun.

The road ahead

The U.S. have little time to lick their wounds. Their next test comes against Portugal in the final leg of this international window.

It is a massive opportunity to silence the critics and prove that the Belgian disaster was an outlier rather than a preview of their World Cup exit. With the pressure to perform on home soil reaching a fever pitch, a statement win is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity.