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US coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed deep disappointment and frustration over the backlash surrounding Folarin Balogun’s overturned suspension but insisted the controversy does not excuse his team’s 4-1 World Cup exit against Belgium.
FIFA cleared Balogun to play in the crucial round-of-16 match in Seattle despite a previous red card, following a direct phone call from US President Donald Trump to the governing body.
While the resulting political storm dominated the team’s final days, Pochettino insisted the off-field drama did not cause the team’s poor performance on Monday.
The coach accused critics of mixing politics with sport and condemned the abusive messages and threats directed at him for starting the forward.
He defended his decision by stating that as head coach, he simply utilised an available player whom FIFA’s disciplinary committee had cleared.
Balogun, the top US scorer in the tournament with three goals, started the knockout match but failed to make an impact against a dominant Belgian side.
The devastating loss shattered the American public’s hopes for a deep tournament run on home soil.
Pochettino described the match as a collectively and individually terrible day, noting that the World Cup offers no second chances when a team underperforms so drastically.
Following the elimination, the coach remained noncommittal about his future with the national team, stating he will rest before discussing his contract extension or a potential return to European club football with federation officials.
