August 22, 2026 • 3:49 PM EDT
Updated 31 days ago
Jozy Altidore hasn’t lost faith in Mauricio Pochettino’s leadership of the US Men’s National Team, but he’s not pretending the recent World Cup result was good enough. In a frank interview with Bolavip, Altidore made it clear he’s in Pochettino’s corner for the long haul, yet still labelled the USMNT’s run at the 2026 World Cup as a failure. If you’re a fan looking for straight talk about the national team’s direction, nobody spells it out clearer than Jozy.
Altidore, a name every MLS and USMNT supporter knows, laid out why he thinks Pochettino should get time and support. He reflected on his personal experience against Pochettino in his playing days and how impressed he’s been with the Argentine’s commitment since taking over the US job. “Estamos contigo Poch, estamos atrás de ti. Tienes nuestro apoyo (We’re with you, Poch; we’ve got your back. You have our support),” Altidore said, before adding in English, “I love Pochettino, I’m a big fan. You know, obviously I have history, we played against each other… and then to see him really welcome what it is to be the coach of the US Men’s National Team, the culture, and to do the work, right? It’s not easy… I think it was a job well done… I’m excited to have Poch. I hope he stays for as long as possible.” If you want a clear endorsement, that’s about as solid as it gets.
But that doesn’t mean Altidore pulled any punches about the World Cup exit. The USMNT got out of the group stage in style — winning their group for the first time since 2010 — but then flamed out with a heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16. Altidore summed it up with one word: fracaso, which is Spanish for ‘failure’. He said, “Yeah, it was difficult, you know. And I use the word ‘fracaso’ (failure). It was a ‘fracaso’ to me, not because the players had a bad tournament, the players had a great tournament. But in the manner we lost that game, when I’m sure the players know that they are capable of much more, it was a bit of a shame, right?” That’s brutally honest, but it’s the kind of critique a program needs if it wants to reach the top.
According to World Soccer Talk, Altidore isn’t just dwelling on disappointment. He’s got ideas about how to break this cycle of promising teams falling short — and it starts at the youth level. He stresses that you can’t just expect overnight World Cup success. For him, the US needs to prioritize getting results and building identity at the U-17, U-20, and Olympic levels, so that the senior squad isn’t starting from scratch each cycle.
This isn’t just talk for the cameras. Altidore’s message to US Soccer is about patience and foundations, not shortcuts. He believes the changes need to start now if the States want to be considered contenders come 2030. The quick fix isn’t coming, but if the country gets serious about youth development, Altidore thinks the World Cup results will eventually follow.
Why Altidore’s Words Hit Home
- Pochettino’s contract as USMNT boss has public backing from a major ex-player, adding stability amid supporter debate.
- USMNT’s round of 16 exit after winning the group proves progress isn’t linear — result matters more than hype.
- Altidore’s ‘failure’ tag isn’t about individual effort, but the gap between actual and potential against Belgium.
- Calls for youth development mean the US isn’t expected to fix everything by simply changing managers.
- Altidore shifts the conversation from short-term optimism to structural reform for long-haul success.
Key Takeaways for Bettors
- Pochettino’s support from ex-players means he’s likely staying, so stability could boost USMNT odds in future markets.
- A ‘failure’ tag from Altidore signals internal pressures — don’t overrate the USMNT based solely on group-stage wins.
- Bettors should be cautious with outright bets on USMNT in knockouts until there’s evidence of progress at youth level.
- If you’re betting long-term, keep an eye on U-17, U-20, and Olympic performances — that pipeline will define the 2030 squad.
- Public critique from respected former players may influence federation decisions, affecting futures prices if coaching changes loom.
- Group stage success hasn’t always meant knockout wins for the US — a reminder to dig deeper than just first-round form when making picks.
More coverage: Soccer news coverage, Soccer analysis and odds and Soccer expert picks.
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