Mauricio Pochettino says he hasn't spoken to Tottenham or Real Madrid about their manager jobs, and that he's genuinely open to staying with the USMNT beyond the 2026 World Cup. Take both of those statements seriously — and take them with a pinch of salt.
The Argentine spoke Monday in Marietta, Georgia, and hit every note you'd expect from a man in an awkward professional position. Commitment to the job at hand. Enthusiasm about the future. Carefully worded non-denial denials about what comes next. "I think you can never say never," he said when asked about staying past August. "I am very happy here... the potential here is massive."
That's not nothing. U.S. Soccer is opening a new national training center in Fayetteville, Georgia, youth programs are developing, and the World Cup on home soil genuinely does represent a generational opportunity. Pochettino isn't wrong about any of that.
But then there's what he told L'Equipe
Just last week, Pochettino told the French publication: "I miss the world of football in England. I love the country, its culture, its football culture." That's not a man who has mentally moved on from the Premier League. That's a man counting down days.
Spurs, the club where he built his reputation between 2014 and 2019, are currently 17th in the Premier League and reportedly closing in on Roberto De Zerbi as their third manager of the season. If they go down — their first relegation since 1978 — the rebuild would be a different kind of project than Pochettino would likely want. Still, he made a point of saying Spurs are "a club I really care about" and that he's "sure they are going to stay up." You don't say that about a job you're indifferent to.
Real Madrid is the other name swirling, which would be a different conversation entirely.
Camp injuries add noise
On the field, the USMNT has its own concerns. Johnny Cardoso flew back to Madrid after managing just 45 minutes against Belgium with a leg issue — he was already set to miss Atletico's clash with Barcelona due to suspension, so the timing could be worse. Chris Richards, meanwhile, is available after missing the Belgium game with a knee problem.
Pochettino confirmed there are no plans to bring in additional players mid-camp to cover the fitness concerns.
The World Cup roster decisions are getting closer. So is the question of what Pochettino does after it. Right now, he's saying the right things about staying — but "why not, if we are happy and the federation is happy" is a long way from "I'm committed beyond 2026."
