Balogun Debate No Excuse For World Cup Exit, Says Pochettino

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed suggestions that the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s eligibility contributed to his team’s World Cup exit, insisting the USA simply failed to perform against Belgium.

The Americans crashed out of the tournament after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in their Round of 16 clash, despite Balogun being cleared by FIFA to feature after receiving a red card in the previous match.

The decision sparked widespread debate after US President Donald Trump appealed to FIFA over the striker’s availability. Although FIFA maintained that its ruling was made independently of political influence, the controversy dominated discussions ahead of the match.

Pochettino said the criticism directed at him and Balogun was disappointing but stressed that it had no bearing on the team’s performance.

“It wasn’t our day,” the former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager said. “We cannot make excuses. If FIFA’s disciplinary committee says a player is eligible, my responsibility is to select from the players available.”

Balogun, the USA’s leading scorer at the tournament with three goals, started against Belgium but was unable to inspire the hosts as they suffered a heavy defeat.

Reflecting on the elimination, Pochettino admitted the team endured a poor outing both collectively and individually, adding that such setbacks can be decisive in knockout tournaments.

The Argentine also declined to confirm whether he would remain in charge of the US national team, saying he would first hold discussions with the country’s football federation after taking time to reflect on the campaign.