Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to continue as the head coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team until the 2030 World Cup. This announcement came shortly after the Argentine coach led the team to the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, which took place in the U.S.
U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson expressed his enthusiasm in a statement: “Mauricio and his staff are committed to advancing soccer in the United States. Our new project offers an opportunity to build on the progress of the USMNT and capitalize on the momentum within U.S. Soccer.” He further emphasized the organization’s ambitions to compete for World Cup victories and increase soccer’s popularity nationwide. “I am thrilled that Mauricio and his team will work hard to turn these ambitions into reality,” Batson added.
Pochettino, 54, previously coached top clubs like Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain before joining the U.S. men’s program in 2024. Despite initial mixed results with a 15-10-1 record leading up to the 2026 World Cup, his team performed impressively by winning their group and recording a team-high in goals. During the knockout stages, the U.S. team defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina but faced a setback in the round of 16 against Belgium, losing 4-1.
After the defeat, Pochettino remarked on his positive working relationship with the U.S. Soccer leadership, which had extended his contract before the tournament. While proudly identifying as Argentine, he endeared himself to U.S. fans by singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” with his team. The new contract is expected to help the U.S. team continue the progress Pochettino noted over the past year.
In July, Pochettino commented on the team’s growth since the 2025 Gold Cup. “I am proud of this team. In one year, we have shown we can play and compete in soccer,” he stated. “We need to keep improving.”
The terms of Pochettino’s new deal were not disclosed, but his previous contract reportedly included a base salary of $6 million annually, the highest ever for a U.S. soccer coach. To secure his services and draw him away from club roles in 2024, U.S. Soccer enlisted private investors such as Ken Griffin for financial support.
The story continues to develop, so please stay tuned for further updates.
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