USMNT Legend Calls for Mauricio Pochettino’s Firing After Embarrassing 2-0 Loss

Pressure continues to grow for Pochettino and the USMNT ahead of the World Cup next year. Despite the result, Pochettino remained positive and promised the fans a great performance at the World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino: "I think we were better than South Korea, but if you’re not clinical… It’s difficult...My message to the fans is that we’re going to arrive at the World Cup in the best condition and we’re going to be difficult to defeat."

Former USMNT player Alexi Lalas was furious after the team's 2-0 loss to South Korea and mentioned being worried for the team ahead of the World Cup. Lalas goes further and suggests firing Pochettino and looking for a new coach.

Alexi Lalas on Mauricio Pochettino

Alexi Lalas believes that there is still time for U.S. Soccer to look for a change at the head coach position. On the Alexi Lalas' State of the Union Podcast, Lalas and Stu Holden discuss Pochettino's stance with the USMNT after the 2-0 loss.

When Holden asked Lalas if he would fire the coach, the former defender said he would. Holden questioned his opinion, and Lalas says that Pochettino has not shown that the team is going in the right direction.

Alexi Lalas: "Yeah, I would....This is not good enough. Goodbye. We get somebody else in that's gonna do the job that is going to enable us to have success next summer...Am I confident that this team is going to do great things next summer, given what has happened? Hell no!

Lalas doesn't think the U.S. Soccer Federation will fire Pochettino, but believes a change is necessary so the USMNT can be successful in the 2026 World Cup.

Holden believes that Pochettino deserves time to find the players he wants to take for the World Cup after leaving out crucial players from the roster this international break.

Lalas believes these friendly matches matter to prepare for the World Cup instead of hoping the team will show up at the World Cup.

Alexi Lalas: "What happened tonight was crap. And it doesn't fill me with excitement. It doesn't fill me with optimism come next summer. If I'm not filled with that and therefore I'm actually scared about what's gonna happen next summer, then yeah, of course, if I'm in charge, I'm going to look to make a change."