Mauricio Pochettino is staying with the USMNT. Negotiations with U.S. Soccer are trending toward a deal that would keep him in charge through the 2030 World Cup, with an announcement expected soon — and the federation already wants him on the touchline for September and October friendlies.
The deal isn't signed yet. But it's close enough that U.S. Soccer has reportedly brought Pochettino into the coaching staff hiring process — he and his staff were involved in selecting Steve Cherundolo to lead the Olympic side. You don't let someone help pick your coaches unless you're pretty confident they're sticking around.
What the World Cup showed — and what it didn't
The 2026 tournament was always going to be a complicated measure of Pochettino's work. He had roughly a year to implement a system, assess a player pool, and get a squad ready for a home World Cup. Over 50 million Americans watched the USMNT's round of 16 exit against Belgium — a 4-1 defeat that ended in the same stage as the previous three World Cups. Same round, better occasion. Progress is real; the ceiling is still unclear.
Pochettino himself put it plainly after the Belgium loss: "It's not linear that you are going to grow so quick." That's a measured, honest read — and probably the right one. The U.S. bypassed qualification as hosts this cycle, so the next four years bring a proper return to CONCACAF qualifying, the 2028 LA Olympics, and a reported Copa America appearance in the same summer. There's a full schedule ahead, and a genuine talent pipeline to manage.
What comes next
The 2028 Olympics loom as a significant development opportunity. U.S. Soccer is prioritizing the U-23 tournament as a proving ground for the next wave of players who could form the spine of the 2030 squad. Pochettino's involvement in hiring Cherundolo signals a coordinated approach between the senior setup and the youth pathway — something the USMNT has historically struggled to maintain.
AC Milan came calling before the World Cup began. Ruben Amorim got the job instead, and Pochettino stayed put. Whether that was loyalty, timing, or simply liking the project, it means the USMNT gets continuity — something national teams rarely get and almost always need.
"A generation of young kids that come in behind — I think only it's about to keep believing in that process," Pochettino said after elimination. Four more years to find out if that process actually delivers.
