Seattle, July 7 -- United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino accepted responsibility for his side's disappointing FIFA World Cup 2026 exit after a crushing 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16, admitting the hosts never found their rhythm during the contest.

Speaking to FOX Sports after the match, Pochettino said the United States failed to approach the game with the same intensity and quality they had displayed throughout the tournament.

"Everyone saw that from the beginning, we did not connect with the game. Even when we scored the equaliser, we conceded with the next action. It was really tough; we didn't show what we can normally show. We need to see why we didn't approach the game in the same way we did the rest of the World...