Will Mauricio Pochettino go back to Tottenham? How USMNT coach is fueling rumors of Premier League return

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be an enormous and global occasion, as the United States hope to make a historic push at the most famous soccer tournament on home soil.

Once the World Cup is concluded and the excitement dies down, the focus will once again return to club football ahead of the 2026/27 European season.

Before the new club campaign begins, the coaching carousel is expected to be a hot-button topic, with a number of big European clubs likely to be searching for a new manager. One of those is likely to be Tottenham, who are currently battling relegation from the Premier League with an interim boss, but they will not be alone in their time of need.

As Mauricio Pochettino prepares to lead the United States into its biggest tournament in decades, speculation about the Argentine's future remains abuzz. The former Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea manager is believed to covet a return to club management and will have plenty of options after the conclusion of the World Cup.

The Sporting News discusses what could be next for Pochettino, and whether he will return to London, where he rose to prominence as a top-level European club manager.

MORE: Predicting the USMNT roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Will Mauricio Pochettino leave the USMNT after the World Cup?

It's believed to be very likely that Mauricio Pochettino will depart his post as head coach of the U.S. national team once the 2026 World Cup has concluded.

Pochettino's contract with U.S. Soccer expires at the conclusion of the World Cup. At 54, it does not feel as though the Argentine's long-term career lies in the international space, and his extensive club experience is likely to see him highly sought-after in the aftermath of the FIFA tournament.

There are a number of high-profile job openings at big clubs all expected to vie for a small cluster of top names, and Pochettino figures to factor into this significantly.

U.S. Soccer secured Pochettino's loyalty through the World Cup with a massive buyout that prevented him from leaving prematurely, but once the contract expires, it would be a coup for the national team to retain his services, given how heavily he will be pursued by multiple clubs.

Will Mauricio Pochettino rejoin Tottenham?

While there have been many rumors involving a return to Tottenham for Mauricio Pochettino, there are a lot of things that have to fall into place for this to occur.

First and foremost, Tottenham have to avoid relegation, which seems a significant risk at this point. There is no chance Pochettino would take the Spurs job if they are sent to the Championship, given how many other big European clubs are likely to vie for his services.

Then, Spurs have to remain financially competitive with the many other clubs he is likely to get interest from. There's a chance that at least Real Madrid and Manchester United both push for Pochettino to take over, while there's a very real scenario where one or more of Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, or Chelsea could be in need of a new manager.

Just because Pochettino has coached at Spurs before does not mean he would make significant concessions to rejoin the club if they are not competitive, both from a financial perspective and the attractiveness of the situation. If he feels another job is better suited for him to succeed, he would not blindly join Tottenham just for the added familiarity.

What has Mauricio Pochettino said about USMNT future?

Speculation over Mauricio Pochettino's future has been partly fueled by his refusal to downplay talk of a post-World Cup exit.

Pochettino has been asked repeatedly about the chance he leaves his post later this summer to return to club management, and each time he has left the door wide open.

Most recently, Pochettino spoke to French publication L'Equipe and said, "I miss the world of football in England. I love the country, its culture, the football culture. For anyone with a competitive spirit who wants to measure themselves against others and test their abilities, it’s the ideal place. There, you have to constantly give your best."

First and foremost, that's a damning indictment of international management in general, and the USMNT job in particular. Additionally, it's clear that Pochettino misses the everyday grind of club management, and could seek to return there soon.