Pochettino rues United States exit after 4-1 loss to Belgium

Belgium seized control early and never let the United States settle, beating Mauricio Pochettino’s team 4-1 at Seattle Stadium to end the Americans’ run in the round of 16. Charles De Ketelaere struck in the ninth minute before Malik Tillman briefly levelled with a first-half free kick, but Belgium, ranked ninth by FIFA, answered through Hans Vanaken in the second half and added a late fourth goal in front of 66,925 spectators.

Pochettino framed the defeat as a failure of rhythm rather than effort. “We never connected with the game,” he said after the match, adding that the team did not show its true level and that, even after Tillman’s equaliser, it conceded immediately on the next action. The United States found a foothold only briefly, then lost the tempo again as Belgium restored its shape and forced the Americans into hurried decisions under pressure.

That breakdown ended a campaign that had been the United States’ strongest at a home World Cup in 34 years. The Americans finished top of Group D with wins over Paraguay and Australia, then beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 for their first knockout-stage victory since 2002. The team finished with 11 goals, its highest total in a single World Cup, but the tournament still closed with a fourth consecutive round-of-16 exit.

Pochettino, whose contract runs out after the tournament, said no decision had been made on his future. He said the next step was a period of rest, then conversations and evaluation with the federation. He also rejected any attempt to pin the defeat on the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s suspension.