Three years back, the United States Soccer Federation issued a report that still surprises me it ever saw daylight. It carried the name "A BREAKDOWN OF THE RIGOROUS PROCESS IN THE SEARCH FOR THE USMNT HEAD COACH."

The document asserted the federation had used tools such as "advanced data analytics, sophisticated metrics, and cutting-edge hiring methods" to locate its next leader for the U.S. men's national team. It then praised the individual in charge:

"When the U.S. Soccer Federation brought in Matt Crocker following years at the English Football Association and Southampton in the Premier League, he arrived with fresh perspective and strict standards for his main task: selecting the top coach for the U.S. men's national team."

Those modern standards and outside viewpoint guided the USSF to the coach already in place. Following the 2022 World Cup, U.S. Soccer spent half a year running what it described as a "battery of practical and psychological testing" only to conclude it preferred to retain Gregg Berhalter. He received a fresh three-year deal, yet twelve months later, after the U.S. exited the Copa America group stage, the federation dismissed him.

Instead of repeating an analytics-heavy search that might again point back to Berhalter, U.S. Soccer opted for simplicity by relying on two American strengths: building celebrities and generating billionaires.

The federation sought a well-known coach with proven results, so it enlisted hedge-fund leader Ken Griffin of Citadel to fund the $6-million annual salary for Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino ranks among the top club coaches of recent times. His sides display a distinct approach, pressing high and accepting risks. They act as "protagonists," dictating play through intensity.

The USMNT had rarely dictated terms before this summer. After Crocker departed for Saudi Arabia, Pochettino still instilled high pressing and goal scoring. He altered how the team operated.

Yet none of it proved decisive.

On Monday the U.S. exited the World Cup in the round of 16, matching its prior three tournaments. Whether using AI, consulting firms, securing billionaire backing, or posting online, the outcome stays identical. No manager rescues the national team.

Why Pochettino succeeded in coaching the U.S.

Coaches in any sport share one core duty: elevating a group of players beyond their combined talent. This occurs mainly by fielding top performers in a system that boosts strengths while masking flaws.

At times this proves difficult, such as when the three strongest options are goalkeepers. At other moments it comes easily, like pairing a goal-scoring striker with a creative midfielder. (Consider Norway.) Usually the challenge falls in between.

The USMNT sits in that middle ground, and Pochettino addressed it effectively. Internationally, squads cannot select freely or train daily, so most adopt simpler tactics centered on defense and controlled possession to avoid turnovers.

This explains why matches often mirror France's 1-0 result versus Paraguay. A weaker side packs the box to neutralize, while the superior team struggles to penetrate without daily chemistry and hesitates on risks that could invite counters.

The U.S. avoided this trap. It routed Paraguay 4-1 in its opener and handled comparable setups from Australia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Pochettino enabled club-like play.

Rather than dropping deep, his defense pressed forward all tournament.

Only two round-of-16 sides posted a lower PPDA than the USMNT's 10.15. Just three recorded more defensive actions in the attacking half, per Futi. Only five dominated the final third more, with 61.4 percent possession there. This held even after resting starters against Türkiye and finishing a half-hour down a man versus Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Pressing sides at this level often generate low-quality chances from distance. (Consider Türkiye.) The Americans avoided that because they took positional risks typical of clubs.

This showed clearest with Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman. Both operated centrally yet received passes in wide areas and made box runs, emptying central zones. That converted territory into goals, and the press recovered possession quickly when needed.

The setup matched roster strengths. Modern clubs use one versatile defender who shifts between back-three and back-four roles. Alex Freeman filled that spot, giving Sergiño Dest extra protection despite his attacking gifts and defensive limits.

This freed Antonee Robinson to handle the left alone. Freeman's inclusion sometimes created a back-three shape suited to Chris Richards, while shielding aging Tim Ream.

Ream's distribution let Tillman and McKennie focus off-ball. It allowed Tyler Adams to clean up space as the defensive midfielder. Shifting Dest into a hybrid role addressed the lack of a strong winger opposite Christian Pulisic.

Everything aligned and delivered results until facing superior opponents.

Why Pochettino still failed with the USMNT at the World Cup

Occasionally tactics explain an unexpected result: two evenly matched sides see one strength dominate a weakness, or a manager makes a clever but unrepeatable tweak. More often a conservative choice limits output. (Consider the Netherlands.)

The U.S. loss to Belgium fit none of these. Eleven players performed poorly across the board.

The U.S. held slight possession and territory because it trailed early, yet it managed just 12 touches in the opposition box against 22 allowed. Despite the deficit it took only seven shots total, with the first open-play attempt arriving in the 79th minute from Sebastian Berhalter.

This was not bad luck. The U.S. was simply outclassed.

Each circle marks a shot (purple) or goal (orange), with size showing expected goals value.

The U.S. entered as favorites. Belgium had struggled and appeared vulnerable. Its star Jérémy Doku appeared only late, and Kevin De Bruyne missed the match entirely. This was not Belgium's past Golden Generation. Still it bypassed the press, limited U.S. chances, and created threats in the final third.

Some might label the USMNT naive for not defending deeper. Yet Ream struggled in his own box, missing the first goal and allowing a close header for the second.

Ream represents the core USMNT issue: the players remain insufficient. He once belonged among those good enough, as Pep Guardiola noted, but at 38 he is past his best. His continued presence signaled a lack of stronger alternatives.

Despite more Americans in Europe, the pipeline has not yielded a true world-class starter.

What's next for Pochettino and the USMNT?

One poor result does not define everything. Several starters might improve in a replay, and the Balogun situation could have influenced matters.

Still the four competitive World Cup games suggest the player pool excels against weaker sides but falters against better ones.

In goal Matt Freese faltered, consistent with his MLS level. Ream's passing shines in possession but falters in defense. Richards defends solidly yet cannot neutralize stars or progress the ball from pressure.