Following a disappointing defeat in the Concacaf Gold Cup final, U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed his frustration with referee Mario Escobar. The U.S. team succumbed to a 2-1 loss against their long-time rivals, Mexico, leaving Pochettino dismayed over two pivotal officiating decisions that he felt negatively impacted the outcome of the match.
The match began with an early lead for the U.S., thanks to a well-placed header from Chris Richards in the fourth minute. However, as the game progressed, Mexico equalized in the 27th minute with a superb strike from Raúl Jiménez. The pivotal moment came in the 77th minute when Edson Álvarez scored what turned out to be the winning goal, initially ruled offside but overturned after a video review.
Pochettino's greatest ire, however, was directed at a handball incident involving Mexican defender Jorge Sánchez. The handball, which occurred around the 66th minute, went unpunished, prompting Pochettino to assert that had the roles been reversed, a penalty would have been granted. He claimed that replays showed Sánchez handling the ball while slipping in the box, a decision that left him feeling frustrated and questioning the consistency of officiating.
In the post-match press conference, Pochettino stated, “I’m not going to cry. I wanted to tell the truth, and the truth was that if that happened in the opposite (box) for sure it’s a penalty.” He elaborated on the incident, saying, “(Sánchez) was the player with the knee on the floor. He pushed the hand over the ball. It’s not that the hand was on the floor and the ball touched.” He emphasized that the lack of a penalty call could have changed the game’s outcome, potentially leading to a U.S. victory and celebration.
The U.S. team entered the tournament amid a challenging stretch, missing key players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Antonee Robinson. Despite these challenges, they managed to reach the final after winning all three group matches and overcoming Costa Rica in a dramatic penalty shootout, followed by a semifinal win against Guatemala.
Pochettino reflected on the tournament's significance, stating, “I think it was an amazing tournament to realize in the way that we want to grow.” He expressed optimism about the team's future, especially with the 2026 World Cup approaching, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. “That is the way that we want to build our journey into the World Cup,” he added, emphasizing the need to maintain a competitive spirit.
While Pochettino recognized the pain of losing a trophy, he also acknowledged the lessons learned. He noted the potential for a different outcome, particularly concerning the disallowed goals by Mexico in previous matches during the tournament. “In this tournament, Mexico suffered two disallowed goals,” he said, referring to the complexities of officiating decisions and their impact on the game.
In conclusion, despite the disappointment of the Gold Cup final, Pochettino remains hopeful about the U.S. men’s national team’s growth and competitiveness as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup, aiming to make a significant mark on the international stage.
