Pochettino's Path to 2030 World Cup

Following Pochettino's contract extension, Lalas emphasized that the manager's success will be measured by winning crucial knockout matches, particularly getting past the round of 16. 'That final judgment will come four years from now,' Lalas stated, expressing support for keeping Pochettino through the next tournament cycle which includes Concacaf Nations League, Gold Cup, and possibly 2028 Copa América.

Lalas noted that had the US team defeated Belgium in the recent tournament, much of the criticism surrounding American soccer would have disappeared. 'If this U.S. team under Mauricio Pochettino this summer had found a way to get past Belgium, all of this talk and all of this self-examination...that all goes away,' he explained. ipltable.lol