Pochettino Reveals Deadline for Making His USMNT Decision

U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino is preparing to announce his decision in the coming days.

The highly regarded Argentine tactician was appointed in September 2024 to guide the Stars and Stripes through the 2026 FIFA World Cup on American soil, with his contract set to expire once the tournament concludes.

After steering the team to first place in Group D and securing its first round-of-16 victory in 24 years, Pochettino received widespread praise throughout the summer. Questions about his position only emerged following a stunning 4–1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16, which sent the USMNT packing.

Pochettino was reportedly presented with a contract extension through the 2030 World Cup even before this tournament's opening games, and U.S. Soccer continues to be hopeful about his long-term involvement with the federation. However, Pochettino has consistently insisted on holding off any future decisions until after the conclusion of soccer's premier competition.

The championship match, pitting giants Argentina and Spain against each other at MetLife Stadium, is scheduled for Sunday, meaning time is running short for Pochettino. He confirmed that U.S. Soccer is keen to retain him and outlined a clear timeframe for reaching his final decision.

"Look, we're looking into it; we're analyzing it," Pochettino told Spanish outlet Cope. "I received an offer to stay on, so we'll see. We'll make a decision next week."

Will Pochettino Stay With the USMNT?

U.S. Soccer has been consistently transparent regarding its intentions with Pochettino. "We had positive conversations with Mauricio before the World Cup about the future," the federation stated following the USMNT's elimination.

"We agreed we would continue those conversations following a chance to rest and reflect post World Cup. We have a great deal of respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone part of the program. We have shared excitement about our potential and also shared clarity about the amount of work at all levels still required to achieve our ambition."

U.S. Soccer CEO & Secretary General JT Batson added just Thursday: "From a men's national team coaching standpoint, we're in active discussions with Mauricio and staff about the future...We're excited about the discussions."

The fact that Pochettino has yet to enthusiastically respond in kind and publicly commit to extending his tenure with the USMNT—following what was largely a dream run—does not bode well for U.S. Soccer, particularly given how strongly Pochettino appeared to connect with his players.

Finances may ultimately be the deciding factor. Pochettino, who previously managed high-profile, well-paying clubs such as Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, accepted a significant salary reduction to take on an international role. He earned approximately $6 million annually at U.S. Soccer, less than half of the reported $13–14 million he commanded during his single season at Chelsea in the 2023–24 campaign.

Pochettino may be tempted to return to club management and the considerably larger paycheck that accompanies it. A number of clubs are likely already eyeing the experienced coach.

Despite his non-committal responses, there is one aspect of Pochettino's behavior that hints at a genuine connection to U.S. Soccer: the way he communicates with his players. His motivating locker room addresses were as much about developing the sport in America as they were about winning. This became a driving theme for the players throughout the tournament and implies that Pochettino genuinely cares about the program's long-term trajectory—perhaps because he sees himself as part of it.

Enable functional cookies to see this feature.

"One of the secondary conversations we were having as a group and as a team was, 'How can we inspire and get more people to love this game? How can we get them to fall in love with the game, be passionate about the game, get behind the team and the sport even more? What is it going to take from us?' We felt that throughout the tournament," USMNT veteran captain Tim Ream told ESPN on Thursday.

We'll learn next week whether Pochettino sees himself continuing to spearhead that mission.