Turkiye has the next four years to celebrate a meaningless goal that had no bearing on the 2026 World Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino also had much more important things to do than worry about a last-second 3-2 loss that saw many of USMNT’s best players rest for a looming Round of 32 knockout game.
5
You either know football (soccer) or you don’t — and Pochettino had no time for the unlearned on Thursday at Los Angeles Stadium.
“I need to remember you and everyone that we won the group,” an increasingly frustrated Pochettino told reporters.
“Sorry, guys. We won.”
The former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham leader was almost perfect coaching USMNT during its initial two World Cup games, when Pochettino’s squad beat Paraguay and Australia by a combined 6-1 and scorched the pitch.
On Thursday, Turkiye was eliminated before the match.
Pochettino smartly rested regular starters Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun due to lingering yellow cards — which have now reset for the Round of 32 — while star Christian Pulisic didn’t cross the line until the 57th minute.
All that mattered for USMNT was staying healthy, remaining competitive and fine-tuning its engine for Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
So no wonder that a coach who could be managing in the Premier League became more and more perplexed at all the negativity being thrown in his face.
Pochettino also received an absurd question asking if he had spoken to US President Donald Trump, which was so off target that the USMNT coach didn’t know how to reply 11 minutes into his press conference.
“Has President Trump reached out to you at all? And, if yes, what did he say?” a reporter asked.
5
5
5
“Sorry,” said Pochettino, turning to the side and appearing to wonder if he was really asked that question after a World Cup match.
Then the USMNT coach was asked if he believed his team could ‘challenge and kick on’ in the knockout rounds.
Nevermind that just 24 hours before, football and soccer experts around the world were hyping USMNT as a serious semifinals contender.
And that Pochettino’s team was playing better than England.
“Do you think this is going to change the mood of the player(s) or what they they think because we concede in the last moment a goal that it’s possible to concede?” Pochettino said.
“It’s going to change my my mood, my momentum? No, winning this game or not winning this game is not going to change. The most important is that we compete. We compete really well.”
Coming to America
USMNT will be favored in the Round of 32, and will keep playing in the United States for the remainder of this massive World Cup as long as Pochettino’s squad keeps winning games.
If US Soccer is knocked out vs another European team, then it’ll be time for real questions.
Pochettino’s crew is now rested, has remembered what defeat feels like, and will have an entire country behind its back in five days.
Nothing changed for USMNT against Turkiye.
Except for the fact that Pochettino was reminded he’s still having to educate newbies and critics about the growing power of USMNT under his reign.
“I think is is very positive to finish in the way that we finish,” Pochettino said.
5
“I’m sorry guys. It cannot be possible that Turkiye finish celebrating the three point(s) and Australia celebrating the the qualification. Paraguay celebrating the qualification, and come here and for you not to say, ‘Congratulation,’ that we won the the group. That is a little
sad.”
Ted Lasso and President Trump would have agreed on that fact.
World Cup WhatsApp
Don’t miss an update from eSPORTY in our dedicated World Cup WhatsApp channel.
Search for ‘eSPORTY World Cup’ in your ‘Updates’ tab on WhatsApp and we’ll drop the proper, unfiltered football chat straight to your lock screen—no fluff, just pure eSPORTY energy.
It’s where you’ll find out all the new rules to watch out for, England and Scotland reaction and big match player ratings.
Plus there will be loads of debates on the biggest talking points as Haaland, Mbappe, Kane and the biggest names in football descend on America, Canada and Mexico.
Stay up to date on all things USMNT across our eSPORTY platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET.
All 104 games at the 2026 World Cup this summer will be live on eSPORTY, eSPORTY 2 and the eSPORTY app.
