Mauricio Pochettino, manager of the United States men's national team, firmly dismissed reports linking him to Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur during a press conference. Pochettino stated there have been no discussions with either club, emphasizing his complete focus remains on the upcoming World Cup and a friendly against Portugal. The former Tottenham and PSG manager, whose name has been tied to both clubs following Igor Tudor's departure from Spurs, declared: 'No. At the moment, no.' He reiterated his commitment to the USMNT, stating: 'I think we are very, very focused here in the World Cup. I think everyone knows that I am committed with the national team here.' While acknowledging the persistent rumors, Pochettino framed them as the clubs' business, not his own. 'I think who knows what is going to happen? Like I said, we are open.

We don't have contract for the future. But why not? If we are happy, and the federation is happy and [we'll have] to see.' The USMNT manager's comments come after a 5-2 loss to Belgium, where defender Chris Richards was a notable absence. Richards, who missed the game with knee soreness, confirmed he is available for Tuesday's Portugal match, though he will be evaluated later.

Richards, who felt the absence of his leadership and physicality acutely, emphasized the team's potential, pointing to the strong first half performance as evidence. 'I think it's a really strong performance from the team and for the first 60 minutes,' he said, adding that the U.S. needs to instill more fear in opponents with its defensive approach. For Pochettino, the immediate priority is translating the intensity shown in the first half against Belgium into consistent performances across all games, starting with Portugal.