World Cup: Pochettino kicks water bottles as US trail Belgium 2-1 at halftime
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Team USA didn't have the start we expected in the first half against Belgium in the Round of 16, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino showed justifiable frustration as a result.
Belgium sent a shock wave through the USA program less than 10 minutes into the game when Charles De Ketelaere headed a ball past Matt Freese's net and sent a hushed murmur over the sold-out Seattle Stadium crowd.
But things returned to normal when Malik Tillman, who scored a free kick in the second half against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, did it again. Tillman buried his shot past Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after deflecting off one of the Belgian defenders.
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Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of the United States during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between the USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Photos by Jane Gershovich/ISI)
That was in the 31st minute, but Pochettino's display of frustration came after the US conceded their second goal two minutes later.
De Ketelaere did it again, this time outjumping veteran defender Tim Ream and using his head to put the ball into the back of the net.
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As Belgium celebrated, Pochettino walked over to his bench and expressed his dismay at what he had just seen on the pitch with his right boot and bottles of Powerade on the ground.
It was that kind of half for Team USA, who went into halftime with plenty of time left before the second half started.
Mauricio Pochettino Manager / Head Coach of USA during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA)
While possession was close – Belgium had 53% to the USMNT's 47% – it was clear that the Belgians had the advantage in the end. They finished the half with five shots on goal to just one from the US They also created four big chances, meaning this game could have been a lot further in the US than the scoreboard currently suggests.
The USMNT will need to play better all around if they hope to advance to the quarterfinals to meet Spain and keep their World Cup title dreams alive. If they do, they will become only the second team in US history to do so, as only the 2002 team was able to reach the quarterfinals in this modern FIFA World Cup format.
Mauricio Pochettino Manager / Head Coach of USA during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA)
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Pochettino may vent more frustrations in the dressing room, but it's clear the manager may have to be wiser with Belgium holding the momentum after the first 45 minutes.
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