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Mauricio Pochettino is staying.
The Argentine manager will continue in his role as head coach of the U.S. men’s national team through the 2030 World Cup, U.S. Soccer announced Monday.
Pochettino was a big hire in 2024 after past coaching stops at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. The U.S. had been praised for its playing style under Pochettino at the World Cup but suffered an embarrassing 4–1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16.
“Working together with U.S. Soccer over the past two years, it has become clear to us that there is tremendous potential to make the Men’s National Team program even stronger,” Pochettino, 54, said in a statement.
Hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin is once again funding Pochettino’s pay “in significant part,” U.S. Soccer said. Other companies and investors are also contributing, including hedge fund manager Scott Goodwin and LAFC minority owner Adam Freede. Griffin previously stepped in when Pochettino was first hired to pay a large portion of the Argentine’s $6 million annual salary.
Pochettino’s new salary was not disclosed.
The USMNT is 17-12-2 under Pochettino, and went 3–2 at the World Cup. Pochettino became the winningest U.S. coach at the World Cup by beating Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Though momentum surrounding the team had been high, the Belgium loss was a familiar ending for the U.S., which also exited in the round of 16 in 2010, 2014, and 2022.
“We know we have a lot of work to do to achieve our clear ambitions, including competing to win Men’s World Cups and having soccer become the most played sport in every community,” U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more excited that Mauricio and team are committed to partnering with all of us to do the hard work to bring those ambitions to life.”
Pochettino’s new contract includes an advisory role in which the coach and his staff will become more involved in youth and technical development.
Shortly before the World Cup, Pochettino was linked to the job opening at AC Milan, the home of USMNT forward Christian Pulisic. Pochettino denied meeting with the club but said it “may be possible” that his representatives met with the club “because they need to do their job.”
Clubs have been calling throughout Pochettino’s time at U.S. Soccer, but that began even before he joined, according to Batson.
“So even when we first met a couple summers ago, there are lots of other people interested in having Mauricio and team join,” Batson has said. “He had standing offers from other places to come, and he wanted to be here.”
U.S. Soccer offered Pochettino a contract extension through the 2030 World Cup before the tournament began, with the intention for both sides to make a final decision after it ended, The Athletic reported.
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