Pochettino’s future with the USMNT takes another twist
The head coach’s contract ran out after the Belgium defeat, but will that be the last we see of him?
The World Cup is over for the USMNT, but the debate has only just begun. With the huge interest generated by the tournament, conversations around the squad, style, and structure are all now mainstream topics on park benches, bars, and bedrooms. And of all the topics surrounding the USMNT, one stands out: Mauricio Pochettino’s future.
The Argentine coach signed a deal with US Soccer in 2024, and his future with the team remains unresolved after their dramatic and slightly disappointing exit to Belgium in the round of 16 in Seattle. However, it has been reported that discussions between the coach and U.S. Soccer are continuing as both sides evaluate the next phase of the project.
The elimination fell short of hopes for a deep run on home soil, yet federation officials appear to have been dropping hints that the overall direction of the team remains encouraging, despite reports that Pochettino has spoken to other teams.
“We’re in active discussions with Mauricio and staff about the future”
U.S. Soccer chief executive J.T. Batson confirmed that conversations with Pochettino and his staff are ongoing, stressing that the discussions extend beyond results on the pitch. “We’re in active discussions with Mauricio and staff about the future,” Batson said on Thursday. “We all share belief that the best days of U.S. Soccer are ahead of us and they’re excited about the opportunity to impact all soccer at all levels in every community.”
“As we shared, we were going to take a break after the World Cup and rest and recuperate,” Batson explained regarding the timeline for appointing a coach. “I didn’t get to do too much resting and recuperating but we’re excited about the discussions and they’ve been active about long-term planning. As a recent example, [they] were active in our discussions with Steve around the U-23 role and were a key part of that process and so we’re feeling good about where we are overall and we’re looking forward to the discussions.”
This is something Pochettino also confirmed, saying that there is “an offer on the table”, and that he and his team “are looking at it over the next few days.”
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