Jozy Altidore sat down for an exclusive interview with Bolavip, where the USMNT and MLS icon opened up about Mauricio Pochettino’s future with the national team and how he views the squad’s run at the 2026 World Cup. Asked about Pochettino’s contract extension, Altidore didn’t hold back his support for the Argentine coach.
“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 began saying, before switching to English.
“I love Pochettino, I’m a big fan. You know, obviously I have history, we played against each other back a long time ago 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,” the former striker said.
When the conversation turned to the national team’s showing at the World Cup, where the USMNT were eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 4-1 loss to Belgium despite winning their group for the first time since 2010, Altidore was more critical, describing the tournament’s outcome in blunt terms.
Chris Richards is consoled by Mauricio Pochettino after 4-1 loss to Belgium. (Getty Images)
“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?” he explained.
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Altidore calls for growth to start from the youth level
Rather than placing blame solely on the senior team, Altidore pointed to the need for broader structural growth within US Soccer, arguing that sustained success has to be built from the youth ranks up.
“You can’t just win a World Cup overnight, right? It has to start from the youth,” he said, calling on the federation to prioritize consistent performances at Under-17, Under-20, and Olympic level as a foundation for the senior team’s long-term development.
For Altidore, that long-term view matters more than any single tournament result. Building consistent success at the youth level, he argued, is what will ultimately determine whether the USMNT can compete with the world’s best by the time the 2030 World Cup arrives, regardless of who’s leading the program along the way.
