{"id":786977,"date":"2026-07-07T22:25:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T22:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/786977\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T22:25:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T22:25:08","slug":"pochettinos-future-uncertain-as-us-soccer-weighs-next-move-after-world-cup-exit-mauricio-pochettino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/786977\/","title":{"rendered":"Pochettino\u2019s future uncertain as US Soccer weighs next move after World Cup exit | Mauricio Pochettino"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spend any time around US men\u2019s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino<\/a> and you\u2019ll likely notice a medallion hanging from a bracelet on his right wrist. It is emblazoned with an engraving of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a detail that feels appropriate for Pochettino, or any high-level manager, really, all of whom are inherently nomadic. The Argentinian has enjoyed stability at a handful of stops but has also done his share of moving, having shepherded five different clubs prior to his arrival in the United States about 22 months ago.<\/p>\n

At the time, he was very much perceived as a short-term hire, an experienced, big-name coach brought in to help build excitement and ensure a respectable performance ahead of a home World Cup<\/a>. The US were subsequently eliminated in the last 16, as they have been in their previous three appearances. It was not all bad \u2013 the US were unquestionably entertaining until their 4-1 crashout \u2013 but in the end, it was the same old song and dance.<\/p>\n

Which raises fresh questions about Pochettino\u2019s future, already a point of discussion in recent weeks. Pochettino and his representatives have been actively engaged in talks with US Soccer, with the federation having extended an offer<\/a> ahead of the World Cup.<\/p>\n

In the days leading up to the tournament, both sides suggested they\u2019d wait til after the World Cup to make any decisions. That time has now come, and Pochettino addressed his future to the assembled media after the US\u2019s elimination on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think now it\u2019s about resting a little bit,\u201d Pochettino said. \u201cTo think, to have conversation and then to see what the decision is from the federation and from us. But I am so happy, we have built a very good relationship, but now is not a moment to talk about that. I think now is a moment to sit, to assess the tournament and for sure in the next weeks, we can start to talk \u2013 if the federation wants to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Pochettino did not offer anything conclusive in regards to his future with the US, he did do his best to lobby for his body of work, suggesting the US had steadily improved under his direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith good things and not so good things,\u201d Pochettino said when asked for his thoughts by the Guardian, \u201cit was amazing, this journey. It still hasn\u2019t been two years working here. And we all know that a process is about a four-year cycle. Today I think we closed the chapter about assessing players, playing in that competition that is so difficult. I think now we have a complete assessment from a lot of players, and if we commit to be here in the future, we have a clear idea of our decisions for the future \u2013 before it was very difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pochettino, as he has done in the past, also cited the state of the program on his arrival as a reference point for the progress he and his staff have made during their stay.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the circumstances that you know were so difficult to manage,\u201d Pochettino said, \u201cIn terms of the legacy, with or without us, the legacy on the group of players and the group of staff is the perfect mindset [they have] now. It is amazing to keep growing. I don\u2019t think the difficult job is done, but we settled the principles for the future, to be very successful. I know that when we took charge, that job, it was really tough in the way we found the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, US Soccer said in a statement: \u201cWe had positive conversations with Mauricio before the World Cup about the future. We agreed we would continue those conversations following a chance to rest and reflect post World Cup. We have a great deal of respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone part of the program. We have shared excitement about our potential and also shared clarity about the amount of work at all levels still required to achieve our ambition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many US supporters have grown fond of Pochettino, as much for his candor as anything else. After a slow start, he proved an effective hype man for the US men, seemingly growing into that part of the job as he went along. He is generally liked by players and staff but has had his struggles, as well, at times finding it difficult to adapt to the differing level of importance placed on the sport of soccer in the US. By and large, he has made incremental progress.<\/p>\n

It is entirely possible that Pochettino, who had never coached a national team prior to accepting the US gig, fancies a return to club soccer. It also is entirely possible that he feels inclined to build on the progress he\u2019s made in America. There should be some clarity in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think in our opinion, we feel proud [of this World Cup],\u201d said Pochettino, \u201cWe feel proud with our staff, with our players, that I think we created something that is going to stay in that federation and in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Spend any time around US men\u2019s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino and you\u2019ll likely notice a medallion…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":786978,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[440],"tags":[49,48,561,82],"class_list":["post-786977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-soccer","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-soccer","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=786977"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786977\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/786978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=786977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=786977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=786977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}