Mauricio Pochettino will continue as the head coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team, having agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Monday.
Pochettino, 54, took over the national team in October 2024. He guided the U.S. to the round of 16 in the most recent World Cup, where the co-hosts were eliminated by Belgium. Despite the loss, the team achieved several milestones, including advancing from the group stage with a game to spare and winning three matches in a single World Cup, captivating fans and setting viewership records.
"The magic thing that happened during the World Cup, the connection with the people, of course with the whole organization and everything was a key point," Pochettino said during a Zoom news conference from his home in Barcelona, Spain. He added that the team learned it "can compete" and possesses the "quality and talent" to close the gap with top international teams.
Pochettino, who previously coached Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, signed an initial contract through the 2026 World Cup. He noted the potential for soccer to grow significantly in the U.S., aiming for it to become one of the country's most important sports.
He views the upcoming cycle as a fresh start, focusing on developing young players with the potential to contribute by 2030. Pochettino acknowledged that while he intends to stay until 2030, the nature of soccer means long-term commitments can be fluid.
Under Pochettino, the U.S. has recorded 17 wins, 13 losses, and one draw. The team has scored 57 goals, with 23 of the 62 players who have appeared accounting for those goals.
"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," said USSF CEO JT Batson in a statement. Ken Griffin, a hedge fund manager, is the lead philanthropic funder for Pochettino's contract, with additional support from Scott Goodwin, Adam Freede, and commercial partners. Pochettino earned over $5 million in his first seven months as coach.
Historically, U.S. coaches have faced challenges in their second World Cup cycle. Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Jurgen Klinsmann, and Gregg Berhalter all experienced mixed results or difficulties after initially achieving success in previous tournaments, highlighting the challenges of sustained performance and qualification.