Mauricio Pochettino, the current coach of the U.S. Men's National Team, stated Thursday that his decision regarding his future with the team is just days away. U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson confirmed that the federation is in ongoing discussions with Pochettino about extending his contract.
Pochettino, 54, has been offered an extension through the 2030 World Cup. His current contract is set to expire after the final match of the ongoing 2026 World Cup tournament, which features Spain and his native Argentina. "They made me an offer to continue, and we’ll see," Pochettino told a Spanish radio station. "We're evaluating it. Next week, we’ll [make] a decision."
Hired in 2024 to replace Gregg Berhalter, Pochettino's tenure has seen mixed results. The team experienced a rocky first 18 months, with losses to Germany, Canada, Panama, Switzerland, South Korea, Türkiye, Portugal, and Mexico. However, the U.S. men's national team secured victories against Paraguay and Australia, and defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 of the World Cup.
Despite these successes, the team suffered a significant 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16, a match described as the team's most important of the tournament. This loss marked the U.S.'s most lopsided defeat in a World Cup knockout game since 1934. The match was viewed by over 50 million Americans, setting a record for viewership of a soccer game in the United States.
Pochettino is reportedly the highest-paid coach in U.S. Soccer history, with a salary exceeding $6 million.