USMNT Coach Mauricio Pochettino Close to New Contract Through 2030

United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino and US Soccer are reportedly “close to completing” an agreement that would extend his contract through the 2030 World Cup, according to several people familiar with the negotiations. The individuals asked not to be identified because they did not have permission to discuss the talks publicly.

Pochettino became head coach of the United States in September 2024 and was originally appointed to guide the squad through the 2026 World Cup, where the team endured a frustrating round-of-16 elimination. Before the tournament, both parties had indicated that they were open to prolonging their partnership. US Soccer chief executive JT Batson said the organization was “enthusiastic” about the possibility of continuing the development achieved during Pochettino’s first spell in charge.

Telemundo commentator Andres Cantor was the first to reveal that the latest contract discussions had moved forward.

Speaking to Spanish-language media on 17 July, Pochettino said an announcement about his future would arrive “next week”. However, neither he nor the federation has since addressed the situation publicly. People with knowledge of the negotiations said on Tuesday that both parties wanted to finalize the agreement quickly so attention could shift to the national team’s upcoming friendlies, scheduled for late September and early October.

Pochettino’s period in charge of the United States has produced uneven results. A fourth-place Nations League finish and a defeat against Mexico in the Gold Cup final were offset by stronger achievements, including the country’s best group-stage performance at a World Cup. For some observers, however, his opening chapter with the team will be defined by the heavy 4-1 loss to Belgium in the tournament’s round of 16.

The financial terms of Pochettino’s proposed contract have not been disclosed. Nevertheless, a person close to the discussions said the Argentine coach could receive “substantially” more than under his previous agreement. Pochettino reportedly earned around $6m annually, excluding performance-related incentives, and collected a $2.5m signing payment. That salary already placed him among the three highest-paid national-team coaches in world soccer. Part of the compensation was supported by private donations, particularly from hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin.

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Pochettino had no previous experience managing at international level before accepting the United States role, but he continued to draw considerable attention from major clubs during his time with the national team. Tottenham Hotspur, where he previously enjoyed a successful spell, showed particularly strong interest. The Argentine was also associated with the Real Madrid position, although both clubs have since appointed coaches to fill their vacancies.