Mauricio Pochettino Agrees to Contract Extension with U.S. Soccer

Mauricio Pochettino has signed a new contract to remain as coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team, continuing his tenure through the 2030 World Cup. The announcement was made by U.S. Soccer officials on Monday, less than a month after the Argentine coach led the U.S. team to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, hosted on American soil.

U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson expressed enthusiasm for Pochettino’s continued involvement, stating, “Mauricio and his staff believe in the future of soccer in the United States, and our new project allows us to build on the progress of the USMNT and the momentum of U.S. Soccer.” He added, “We have clear ambitions, including competing to win Men’s World Cups and making soccer the most played sport in every community. I couldn’t be more excited that Mauricio and the team are committed to partnering with us to achieve these goals.”

Pochettino, known for coaching top-tier clubs such as Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, took charge of the U.S. men’s national team in 2024. Before his national team role, he had not led any national squad. His performance showed mixed results, achieving a 15-10-1 record by the 2026 World Cup, while experimenting with various lineup combinations. The team’s attacking style earned positive reception as the U.S. won its group and set a team record for goals at the tournament.

Pochettino’s attacking style won praise as the U.S. team set records.

Despite an early exit in the round of 16 following a 4-1 loss to Belgium, Pochettino’s rapport with U.S. Soccer leadership had solidified, leading to the contract extension before the tournament. Expressing his fondness for U.S. fans, Pochettino joined in singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” after matches, further cementing his connection with supporters.

The newly agreed deal aims to retain the respected coach, with hopes of continued improvement under Pochettino’s guidance. He acknowledged the team’s transformation over the past year and emphasized the importance of ongoing development, saying, “In one year, this team showed that we can play football, we can play soccer, we can compete. We need to keep improving.”

While the contract’s terms have not been disclosed, it reportedly surpasses $6 million annually in base salary, marking the largest deal secured by a U.S. soccer coach. To finance the agreement and attract Pochettino from club jobs in 2024, U.S. Soccer secured private investors, including Ken Griffin.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.