Mauricio Pochettino isn’t going anywhere. The Argentine coach agreed to a new contract that will see him lead the U.S. Men’s National Team for the next four years.
That time period will carry Pochettino and the USMNT through the Concacaf Nations League, the Concacaf Gold Cup and the CONMEBOL Copa America (which the USMNT is expected, though not yet confirmed, to take part in). It will also include the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
“The passion we experienced from the fans throughout the World Cup only strengthened our belief in what is possible here,” said Pochettino in an official statement.
“We want to try to have a lasting impact on the sport in the country that has welcomed us so warmly and for that impact to extend beyond results on the field.”
Highs, lows and a home World Cup
Pochettino joined the USMNT in September 2024 after a brief spell with Chelsea in the Premier League. At the time, Pochettino was considered an aspirational and inspirational hire; his strong global reputation immediately made him one of the most esteemed coaches in USMNT history.
Pochettino kicked off his tenure with wins against Panama, Jamaica, Venezuela and Costa Rica, but lost four straight matches in early 2025 to throw his tenure into disarray. It took a strong Gold Cup performance from a young, largely untested team — and a string of five undefeated results against Japan, Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay — to bring everything back together.
Two difficult losses against Belgium and Portugal in early 2026 raised questions about the World Cup readiness of Pochettino’s squad, but strong performances in its send-off matches against Senegal and Germany answered them. With momentum finally pushing it in the right direction, the USMNT kicked off its tournament with a generational 4-1 win over Paraguay, then backed it up with a 2-0 win over Australia to seal first place in its difficult World Cup group.
