USMNT can't rule out firing manager Mauricio Pochettino before 2026

The 4-0 loss to Switzerland might be a new low for the USMNT, at least in recent memory. It’s not just a bad night, it was the fourth consecutive loss for the Americans. The U.S. has just five wins and five losses in Pochettino’s first 10 games, including the two losses in the Nations League in March. In those four losses, the USMNT has been outscored 9-2.

In the two recent losses to Türkiye and Switzerland, the U.S. has conceded six goals, looking vulnerable defensively. At the same time, they’ve shown no offensive firepower outside of a second-minute Jack McGlynn missile against Türkiye. They look lost in the final third, having no clear plan or ideas for how to attack.

Is Pochettino the problem?

At this point, it’s fair to ask if Pochettino could be the problem. The U.S. Soccer Federation deserves credit for filling its coaching vacancy with one of the top candidates available. However, Pochettino could just be a bad fit. He came with no previous international coaching experience and brought a system that could be too intricate for the international level. Through 10 games, there is no sign that his system is being implemented properly or that a positive culture is being built.

In fact, things only seem to be getting worse. Losses to Panama and Canada at the Nations League seemed like a low point, but one could rationalize those as growing pains under a new coach. But the losses to Türkiye and Switzerland have shown no improvement and have only raised more red flags. The confidence among the fanbase hasn’t been this low since the USMNT failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. That is unacceptable a year before hosting the World Cup.

Time to rationalize

Of course, plenty of excuses can be made to rationalize the recent losses. It’s well-documented that Pochettino is working with a glorified B squad this summer. Some star players are playing in the Club World Cup, while others are either nursing injuries or resting up before next summer’s World Cup. It might be unfair to judge Pochettino too harshly with a roster full of inexperienced players, most of whom are unlikely to be on the World Cup roster next summer.

However, that rationalization doesn’t address March’s Nations League debacle. Also, Pochettino still had plenty of choices when selecting his roster for this summer. He could have taken steps to avoid a lack of scoring options or a lack of experience at full back, among other issues that have been exposed by Türkiye and Switzerland. Most importantly, Pochettino failed to convince the players who aren’t hurt or playing in the Club World Cup of the importance of being with the national team the summer before the 2026 World Cup.

What now?

Is U.S. Soccer actually going to fire Pochettino after working so hard to get him? Obviously, he’s not going to be fired before the start of the Gold Cup. But it has to be considered an option after the tournament, depending on what transpires there. This has become a desperate situation that may require an act of desperation. Even with just a year before the World Cup, there is more than enough time to find a replacement.

If the USMNT’s struggles continue during the Gold Cup against teams that are several levels below Türkiye and Switzerland in quality, there might be no choice. This isn’t the first time the U.S. has taken a B squad to the Gold Cup. In the past, it hasn’t precluded success in the competition. Therefore, the lack of star power isn’t enough to excuse poor results. If there are more embarrassing losses on the horizon, a change in coach will become obvious.

At this point, even a successful Gold Cup may not be enough to save Pochettino. He may simply be a bad fit to coach a national team. In 10 games, he’s done little to prove otherwise. In virtually all 10 of those games, the result and performance have been more concerning than encouraging. That’s a sign that change might be necessary after the Gold Cup, no matter how the next few weeks play out for the USMNT.