Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly close to agreeing to an contract extension that would keep him as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) through the 2030 World Cup. The agreement would extend his tenure despite the team's recent World Cup campaign ending in a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16.
The 54-year-old's initial contract expired after the tournament. However, U.S. Soccer and Pochettino are now nearing a new four-year deal, according to The Athletic. Negotiations, which were paused during the World Cup, have reportedly progressed rapidly since the team's exit.
Following the loss to Belgium, Pochettino stated his happiness with the team and indicated that conversations with the federation about his future were ongoing. "Right now, it's about resting a little, to think, have conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I'm so happy," Pochettino said.
U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson confirmed that discussions regarding the coaching staff's future were active. "From a men's national team coaching standpoint, we're in active discussions with Mauricio and staff about the future," Batson explained. "We all share a belief that the best days of U.S. Soccer are ahead of us."