Mauricio Pochettino is feeling the heat. Two disheartening losses in the Concacaf Nations League, including a 2-1 defeat to Canada in Los Angeles, have ignited calls for his firing as head coach of the U.S. men’s national team. Ex-players and fans have voiced frustrations in public forums and on social media. Landon Donovan minced no words: “If you aren’t going to show up and actually give a s*** about playing for your national team, decline the invite.” Stuart Holden added, “Pochettino is gaslighting us. Can you imagine what would have happened if Greg Berhalter was still the coach? He would have been fired in the locker room.”
Pochettino has tried to remain calm. “It’s better to lose now because I think we have time,” he said after the match in Los Angeles. He wants to see these growing pains as a chance to regroup rather than a crisis that demands immediate drastic changes. Still, the criticism has grown loud. The team’s lack of competitive fire has pushed Alexei Lalas to say, “This was not just an uninspiring performance but a boring one. It was a complete disaster, a failure.”
Many fans have turned their gaze to Pochettino’s history. He signed a contract worth around $6 million a year, expecting to reform a squad once guided by Gregg Berhalter. Instead, the U.S. side has looked unfocused and inconsistent. Some are now asking whether he’s the right fit at all.
Should Pochettino stay or go?
Those who want him gone believe he’s had ample time to establish his style. Others insist a pair of bad performances doesn’t warrant dismissal. They say a new head coach can’t be fairly judged by two nights of disappointment, especially when the World Cup is still over a year away. Pochettino himself has pointed to clubs and national teams that struggled in early qualifiers or regional tournaments yet thrived at the main event.
But fans also see an intriguing possibility on the horizon. Pochettino has openly voiced his love for Tottenham Hotspur, telling reporters, “I would like one day to come back… it’s always going to be a special club for me.” The seeds of a reunion seem planted. Spurs, for their part, have been rumored to welcome a beloved manager back if they see an opening. With the U.S. job in question, some supporters wonder if Pochettino’s heart might already be drifting toward North London.
Whether the U.S. Soccer Federation decides to let him finish out his contract or bows to public pressure remains to be seen. For now, Pochettino continues to plead for patience. He insists the team has “time” to iron out its issues before the World Cup. Even so, the next few matches will be crucial. If results improve, the calls for his dismissal could fade. But if more losses pile up, it’s hard to imagine the federation standing by a coach under such heavy scrutiny.
Critics, including Donovan, have made it clear: wearing the national team jersey should be about pride and commitment. Pochettino’s job now is to show he can marshal that pride. If he doesn’t, the lure of Tottenham might be more than just talk, and the U.S. could be forced to find someone else to lead them on home soil in 2026.
