.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now in the rearview mirror, the U.S. national team is looking into the future of the program.
Mauricio Pochettino led the USMNT into a historic tournament on home soil, which featured an electric first four matches before collapsing in epic fashion against Belgium in the Round of 16.
The head coach had Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and the rest of the USMNT squad playing an exciting brand of football that led to enjoyable victories over Paraguay and Australia in the group stage, plus Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. This tournament represented the first time ever that the U.S. had topped its World Cup group, and the first World Cup that saw the U.S. win three games.
However, it all came crashing down against Belgium, as the U.S. again failed to reach the quarterfinals, a stage they have only reached once, coming back in 2002. Now, Pochettino must evaluate whether he wishes to stay with U.S. Soccer for another World Cup cycle or return to club coaching, where he built most of his career.
MORE: Mauricio Pochettino's previous contract, salary with USMNT
Will Mauricio Pochettino leave the USMNT after the World Cup?
It's not yet known whether Mauricio Pochettino will depart the U.S. national team after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
At this point, Pochettino is no longer under contract, having seen his previous deal expire at the end of the tournament.
He has been offered a contract extension by U.S. Soccer, according to both Fox Sports and Pochettino himself. Now, it's just down to the Argentine to decide what he wants his future to look like.
When will Mauricio Pochettino make decision on USMNT future?
According to Pochettino, a decision on his coaching future will come soon.
"They made me an offer to continue, and we’ll see," said Pochettino to a Spanish radio station on July 17. "We're evaluating it. Next week, we’ll [make] a decision."
Could Mauricio Pochettino stay with the USMNT?
The likelihood of Mauricio Pochettino staying with the United States has always been low, as the 54-year-old has reportedly coveted a return to club football for a while.
However, it does seem more likely now than it did before the World Cup that Pochettino could stay.
The amount of top-level jobs available has dwindled significantly as most big clubs have shored up their managerial position with the new season approaching. AC Milan reportedly courted Pochettino before the World Cup, but decided to go in another direction. Manchester United hired Michael Carrick permanently. Real Madrid brought back Jose Mourinho. Pochettino's old club Tottenham hired Roberto De Zerbi.
A report by The Athletic claims that the offer to Pochettino would make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the world, which is "also competitive with what he could expect to command on the open market at the top end of European club soccer," but is still somewhat below the spending power of the very biggest European clubs.
It's also likely that Pochettino would gain significant authority over the inner workings of U.S. Soccer should he remain in charge of the national team. Various reports have claimed that Pochettino has expressed an interest in influencing the education of new coaches in the United States, and he would also likely gain power over the youth development in the country as well. Additionally, Pochettino was involved in the hiring of Steve Cherundolo as U-23 head coach, according to U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson.
Pochettino's previous USMNT contract reportedly included an extremely high buyout clause, which a source told the BBC was "one of the biggest financial compensation fees in football history" should he wish to leave in the middle of the deal. Thus, it's reasonable to conclude that U.S. Soccer would include a similar clause in his current offer to extend, hoping to prevent him from leaving in the middle of the four-year World Cup cycle.
This means that Pochettino would essentially be committing his next four years to the U.S. national team, which is an eternity in the coaching world. He will not take this decision lightly.
Where would Mauricio Pochettino go if he leaves?
There are still plenty of opportunities out there should Mauricio Pochettino decide he wants to leave the United States.
First is a return to club football. While there aren't many top-level club openings at the current moment, Pochettino could decide to take a break and wait out his next spot, as there surely will be big-time openings in just a few months when the club season begins and various coaches disappoint.
Additionally, Pochettino could decide to get a head start on the likely opening at the head of the Argentine national team, as Lionel Scaloni is expected to step down in December when his contract runs out. Pochettino now has had a taste of the international scene, and coaching his home country could be a huge draw.
Pochettino said he was "200 percent Argentine" when he was asked if he felt a little American while leading the USMNT during the World Cup.
English (US)