After leading the United States men's national team to its best World Cup finish in two decades, Mauricio Pochettino is likely sticking around to finish what he started. The USMNT head coach is "close" to finalizing a deal with the USMNT that would keep him under contract through the 2030 World Cup, according to The Athletic.
Financial terms of the deal — which has not been finalized just yet — are not known at this time.
Pochettino had been reportedly offered a four-year extension partway through a 2026 World Cup run during which the team won their group, scored more goals than they had in any previous tournament and picked up their first knockout win in 24 years. Pochettino's current contract was set to expire now that this summer's tournament is over.
Pochettino was hired by the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) in 2024 to take over after two failed Gregg Berhalter stints. Typically, federations try to hire international managers for a full World Cup cycle, which is every four years. But USSF's choice to re-hire (and later re-fire) Berhalter shortened the window by the time the federation landed on Pochettino to take over.
Still, in just two years, Pochettino was able to build one of the strongest U.S. squads in decades, capitalizing on the talent currently in the U.S. roster pool and putting unlikely players in the position to thrive. Though Pochettino did his best to downplay the USMNT's chances, hopes sailed high for the team coming out of the group stage.
#finish
Financial terms of the deal — which has not been finalized just yet — are not known at this time.
Pochettino had been reportedly offered a four-year extension partway through a 2026 World Cup run during which the team won their group, scored more goals than they had in any previous tournament and picked up their first knockout win in 24 years. Pochettino's current contract was set to expire now that this summer's tournament is over.
Pochettino was hired by the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) in 2024 to take over after two failed Gregg Berhalter stints. Typically, federations try to hire international managers for a full World Cup cycle, which is every four years. But USSF's choice to re-hire (and later re-fire) Berhalter shortened the window by the time the federation landed on Pochettino to take over.
Still, in just two years, Pochettino was able to build one of the strongest U.S. squads in decades, capitalizing on the talent currently in the U.S. roster pool and putting unlikely players in the position to thrive. Though Pochettino did his best to downplay the USMNT's chances, hopes sailed high for the team coming out of the group stage.
#finish
4 hours ago
