Mauricio Pochettino Extends Tenure as U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team Coach

U.S. Soccer has announced that Mauricio Pochettino, the coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team, has agreed to a new contract. This agreement extends his role through the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

According to JT Batson, CEO of U.S. Soccer, “Mauricio and his staff believe in the future of soccer in the United States. Our new project allows us to build on the progress of the USMNT and the momentum of U.S. Soccer.”

Pochettino initially took over in 2024 to revitalize the team after a disappointing tournament before this year’s World Cup. His resume stands out as no previous U.S. men’s coach managed top European clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea.

His original contract was set to end after this World Cup, where the U.S. team exited in the Round of 16, losing 4-1 to Belgium. However, before that defeat, they achieved notable success with three wins against Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. These victories marked the most wins the U.S. men had ever secured in a World Cup.

Huge crowds attended the matches, and an average of 50.1 million viewers watched the Round of 16 game on TV, marking the most-watched soccer broadcast in American history.

Pochettino expressed, “Working together with U.S. Soccer over the past two years, it has become clear that there is tremendous potential to strengthen the Men’s National Team program.”

Spurred by fan enthusiasm during the World Cup, Pochettino and his team plan to leverage their experience across U.S. Soccer. They aim to enhance pathways for players, coaches, and teams.

The new contract runs until the 2030 World Cup, taking place mainly in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Before then, the U.S. team will compete in several international tournaments, including the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup.

Pochettino and his staff will also support broader initiatives in U.S. Soccer. This includes advising on national team pathway development, youth soccer, coaching education, collaboration with professional leagues, and other technical aspects.