Pochettino stalls on USA future after World Cup last-16 mauling by Belgium

Mauricio Pochettino has said he needs time away from the game before deciding whether to sign a new long-term contract as head coach of the United States men’s national team, following a chastening exit from the World Cup.

The 54-year-old Argentinian watched his side crash out of the tournament with a heavy four-goal defeat to Belgium in the last sixteen, ending a home World Cup campaign that had promised so much for the hosts.

According to the Daily Mail, Pochettino has a four-year contract extension on the table that would keep him in charge of the USA through to the 2030 World Cup, but he is yet to put pen to paper on the deal.

Highest-paid coach in US Soccer history

Pochettino’s current deal, worth six million dollars a year, makes him the best-paid coach in the history of US Soccer. That agreement is now drawing to a close, with the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager weighing up whether to commit to another four-year cycle with the federation.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the Belgium defeat, Pochettino made clear that any decision on his long-term future would have to wait. “I think now, because we were talking with the Federation, it is [time] to rest a little bit, to have conversations and see what the decision is from the Federation and from us,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “But I’m so happy, we built a very good relationship. Now is not the moment to talk about that.”

His comments came just minutes after the United States had been eliminated from the competition they were co-hosting, in front of a home audience that had hoped to see the team progress deep into the knockout stages.

Federation left waiting on a decision

Pochettino’s reluctance to give a firm commitment leaves US Soccer facing a period of uncertainty over who will lead the men’s team beyond his current deal. Having taken charge with the aim of building the programme towards a home World Cup, the manner of the exit will inevitably raise questions about the direction of the project going forward.

For now, both parties appear content to let emotions settle before opening formal talks. Pochettino’s insistence that he has built “a very good relationship” with the federation suggests there is no immediate rift, even if the result on the pitch fell well short of expectations.

The coming weeks are likely to bring further clarity on whether Pochettino will extend his stay with the USA through to the next World Cup cycle in 2030, or whether the federation will instead look elsewhere for its next appointment.

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