Mauricio Pochettino USMNT coach status was extended through the 2030 World Cup, with officials on Monday citing his belief in the program’s long-term ceiling and the momentum built over the past two years.
The agreement comes less than a month after the 54-year-old Argentine guided the United States to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson said in a statement that Pochettino and his staff are aligned with the federation’s vision to elevate the men’s program and capitalize on recent progress. Batson added that the organization’s ambitions include competing to win future Men’s World Cups and expanding the sport’s reach in communities across the country.
Although the team fell short of the quarterfinals, Pochettino said the World Cup experience reinforced his view of what is achievable for the United States.
“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,” he said in remarks released by the federation. He praised fan support during the tournament and said he aims to help strengthen development pathways for players, coaches, and teams throughout the federation, with an impact that extends beyond results.
Before taking the U.S. job in 2024, Pochettino managed several elite clubs, including Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham Hotspur, but had not previously led a national team.
Early results under the former Tottenham manager were mixed as he experimented with lineups, entering the 2026 tournament at 15-10-1. Once the World Cup began, his attacking approach drew plaudits as the United States won its group and set a team scoring record.
The Americans defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, then exited in the round of 16 with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
Following the elimination, Pochettino thanked U.S. Soccer leadership for their support. The federation had already moved to extend his contract before the tournament.
He also embraced the home crowd throughout the World Cup, frequently joining in post-match renditions of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
The new deal keeps a highly regarded coach in place as the federation seeks to build on improvements Pochettino said he observed over the past year.
In July, he contrasted the current trajectory with the state of the program after the 2025 Gold Cup, saying the team has shown it can compete and must continue progressing.
Financial terms were not disclosed. His initial contract reportedly carried a base salary of about 6 million dollars per year, the highest for a coach in U.S. soccer history.
To secure his appointment in 2024, U.S. Soccer enlisted private backers, including Ken Griffin, to help fund the deal.
Mauricio Pochettino USMNT outlook to 2030
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with some opening matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
Pochettino, a native of Argentina, will lead the U.S. into that tournament under the extended agreement.
His initial contract reportedly carried a base salary of about 6 million dollars per year, the highest for a coach in U.S. soccer history, a figure that underscores the scale of modern sports finances alongside other high-profile deals such as those in the tech sector, including Apple fiscal Q3 results.