Pochettino Expected to Improve for 2030 World Cup

Following Pochettino's contract extension with the U.S. men's national team, Lalas emphasized that the coach will be judged on his ability to lead the team to victory in crucial matches, particularly the round of 16. 'If this U.S. team under Mauricio Pochettino this summer had found a way to get past Belgium, all of this talk and all of this self-examination... that all goes away,' Lalas said.

The analyst expressed support for keeping Pochettino for the upcoming cycle, which includes the Concacaf Nations League, Gold Cup, and possibly the 2028 Copa América. 'I think that he will be a better coach this cycle than he was last cycle,' Lalas stated, while stressing the importance of Pochettino staying through the next tournament. playerbros.org