Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States men’s national team, has reached an agreement with the US Soccer Federation on a contract extension that will keep him with the program through 2030, the organization announced Monday.
Both parties had been negotiating the extension for several months, with talks beginning well before the USMNT’s disappointing elimination in the round of 16 at this summer’s World Cup. The federation had consistently expressed its desire to retain Pochettino, and discussions accelerated after the tournament. Reports last week suggested that an agreement was close to completion. Financial terms were not disclosed, although Pochettino is expected to receive an increase on the $6m annual salary from his previous contract, which was already the highest amount paid to a US head coach.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, who financed Pochettino’s original agreement with US Soccer, is understood to be the main financial backer of the extension as well. One person familiar with the deal described Pochettino’s position as an expanded role. Although his staff will remain primarily focused on the senior men’s team, the federation said they will also provide guidance on the wider national-team pathway, youth development, coach education, cooperation with professional leagues and other technical areas throughout the US soccer system.
Pochettino said the experience had convinced him that the men’s national-team program possesses considerable room for further growth. He added that the enthusiasm shown by supporters during the World Cup reinforced his confidence in what can be achieved. The coach and his staff now hope to apply their experience across more areas of US Soccer while improving development routes for players, coaches and teams.
The United States began its World Cup campaign impressively under Pochettino, producing what many considered one of the finest tournament displays in the program’s history with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the opening group match. Encouraging performances against Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina followed before the round-of-16 meeting with Belgium. The US were comprehensively outplayed in that contest, and Pochettino, together with several players, received much of the criticism for the defeat.
Pochettino remains popular among many players and staff members, some of whom believe he has transformed the squad’s mentality. However, he also came into conflict with players he considered insufficiently committed, including Milan midfielder Christian Pulisic, and occasionally voiced those concerns in public. His interactions with the press also attracted criticism following several tense exchanges with reporters who regularly cover the national team.
Following the USMNT’s elimination by Belgium, Pochettino said he was proud of the work completed by his staff and players. Having led the team for roughly 20 months, he argued that the relatively short period had mainly allowed him to assess the squad thoroughly and establish the necessary expectations and working methods.
Reflecting on both the positive and difficult moments, Pochettino described the experience as an exceptional journey. He noted that he had not yet spent two full years in the role, while a complete international-team project typically covers a four-year cycle. The coach said the tournament had enabled his staff to finish evaluating a wide range of players and had given them a much clearer basis for making future decisions.
During Pochettino’s tenure, the United States have recorded 18 victories, 12 defeats and one draw. His difficult early period included a fourth-place finish in the 2025 Nations League and defeat by Mexico in the Gold Cup final, where he worked with a heavily rotated squad. There were also notable successes, including the team’s exciting opening to this summer’s World Cup and an unexpected 5-1 friendly victory over Uruguay.
Pochettino was primarily appointed to guide the United States beyond the round of 16 and into the quarter-finals at a World Cup on home soil. Although he failed to accomplish that objective, the federation has given him another opportunity to pursue it in 2030.
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