Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly nearing an agreement for a new contract to continue as the head coach of the United States men’s national team (USMNT). This development could bring an end to a decade of speculation linking him with the manager position at Manchester United.
Negotiations with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) are described as progressing well. The proposed deal is said to be for four years, extending through to the 2030 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
Pochettino’s Tenure with USMNT
Pochettino took charge as the USMNT head coach in the autumn of 2024, with his first games occurring in October of that year. Under his leadership, the team achieved a significant milestone this summer by winning a knockout round match for the first time in 24 years. Despite this, the team reached the round of 16, a stage they also achieved in 2010, 2014, and 2022, partly due to the expansion of the tournament.
The USMNT experienced a strong group stage performance at the World Cup, securing first place in their group after just two matches, a first in the program’s history. They also won their first knockout World Cup game since 2002. However, their tournament run concluded with a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16.
High points during Pochettino’s tenure include a 5-1 friendly victory over Uruguay in November 2025, which capped a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1). The team also secured compelling victories in the World Cup against Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Conversely, there have been challenging moments, such as defeats to Panama and Canada in the March 2025 Concacaf Nations League final four, and the program’s first four-game losing streak since 2007.
U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson recently stated that discussions with Pochettino and his staff regarding the future are active. Batson emphasized a shared belief that the best days for U.S. Soccer are ahead and highlighted the excitement about impacting soccer at all levels within every community. Pochettino and his staff have remained involved in the federation’s long-term planning, which includes the recent hiring of Steve Cherundolo as coach of the men’s 2028 Olympic team.
Ending Manchester United Speculation
The potential new contract for Pochettino with the USSF would likely put an end to persistent rumors linking him to the Manchester United managerial role. These links have spanned a decade, resurfacing whenever there was a change in management at Old Trafford.
Pochettino was considered a candidate to replace Louis van Gaal a decade ago, a position ultimately filled by Jose Mourinho. Manchester United had previously overlooked Mourinho when appointing David Moyes as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson. In a turn of events, Mourinho, now the head coach of Real Madrid, replaced Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur three years after Manchester United had not appointed him.
Pochettino acknowledged earlier this year that Manchester United had always shown interest, but the ideal scenario for him to manage there never materialized. He recalled a situation when Manchester United sought to permanently replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2022. At that time, Pochettino was under contract at Paris Saint-Germain. He stated that after Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League elimination against Real Madrid, their priority was to secure the Ligue 1 title.
He noted that Manchester United was in a hurry to announce their new manager before the end of that season due to an unsustainable situation, which prevented him from negotiating. In contrast, Ajax provided Erik ten Hag with the flexibility to engage in discussions. Four years later, months after Manchester United offered Michael Carrick a two-year contract, Pochettino was again under contract. However, he now appears poised to commit his long-term future away from Old Trafford.
Looking Ahead for USMNT
If the new deal is finalized, Pochettino could become the first USMNT coach to lead the team in consecutive World Cups since Bruce Arena. This would provide him with the opportunity to guide the team through qualifying matches, the Gold Cup, and potentially the 2028 Copa America, which is expected to be held in the United States.
A key focus for Pochettino will be to ensure the team is better prepared to compete against elite opposition in future tournament games, particularly against teams of a similar caliber to Belgium. This includes addressing various aspects of the team’s development, such as finding a consistent partner for Chris Richards in defense, given that Tim Ream is 38 years old. Other center-back options on the World Cup roster included Auston Trusty (27), Miles Robinson (29), and Mark McKenzie (27), with Cameron Carter-Vickers (28) and Tristan Blackmon (29) also having received call-ups in the past year. Additionally, 19-year-old Noahkai Banks has been considered.
Another area of focus for Pochettino will be the goalkeeper position. While Matt Turner, Matt Freese, and Chris Brady were the USMNT’s goalkeepers at the 2026 World Cup, further development is seen as necessary to establish the position as a consistent strength. Young talents like Diego Kochen (20) and Gaga Slonina (22) are part of the considerations for the future.
Developing the attack and ensuring key players like Christian Pulisic are performing at their best will also be crucial. Malik Tillman, at 24, and Folarin Balogun, at 25, are projected to be significant contributors in the next World Cup qualifying cycle. The future roles of players such as Timothy Weah, Giovanni Reyna, and Ricardo Pepi also remain part of the team’s ongoing development.
The renewal of Pochettino’s contract is expected to be announced soon, according to reports from Telemundo broadcaster Andres Cantor, with further clarification from The Athletic indicating a deal is “close” but still undergoing final discussions.
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk