Pochettino's USMNT Future Secured?
US Soccer Plans Long-Term, Offers Pochettino Contract Extension Through 2030 World Cup
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Key Points
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AC Milan was among the European clubs connected to Pochettino, with reports of talks before the World Cup, and the federation’s push to extend came amid ongoing interest and the later departure of sporting director Matt Crocker, which reshaped the negotiation backdrop.
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Pochettino’s pay is reported at about $4 million per year, placing him among the sport’s top international-coach earners, with a bonus structure that can significantly boost total compensation.
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Pochettino has reshaped the USMNT culture by elevating the badge’s value and strengthening accountability, with observers noting that the entire player pool now believes they have a genuine chance to impact the team.
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The extension decision is expected to wait until after the World Cup, with negotiations having been ongoing for months and the parties choosing not to decide until the tournament’s conclusion.
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During this World Cup, the US topped Group D, including victories over Paraguay and Australia, marking their best-ever group-stage performance in the tournament.
The US Soccer Federation has offered head coach Mauricio Pochettino a four-year contract extension through the 2030 World Cup, The Athletic reported on June 26. The deal would make him one of the highest-paid international coaches in the world and lock him in through two full World Cup cycles. Final signatures will wait until after the current tournament ends.
The offer comes as the USMNT sits atop Group D after wins over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), their best-ever group-stage performance. European clubs including AC Milan have circled Pochettino, raising the stakes. A Round of 32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Dallas on July 1 looms next.
Milan Interest Forced US Soccer to Move Fast
AC Milan contacted Pochettino in May 2026 to fill their managerial vacancy, according to CBS Sports. Pochettino reportedly met with Milan officials just weeks before the World Cup kicked off. That external pressure pushed the USSF to formalize an extension offer rather than risk losing him after the tournament.
The departure of sporting director Matt Crocker in April — he left for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation — added urgency, according to Fox Sports. With no permanent sporting director in place, USSF CEO JT Batson took the lead. Batson said Pochettino "is a big believer in what we're doing," signaling that the coach remains committed despite the outside interest.
Pochettino's Pay Would Rank Among World's Best
Pochettino currently earns around $6 million per year, making him the highest-paid coach in federation history, according to Sports Illustrated. His structure includes a base of roughly $4 million with performance bonuses that can push total pay to $6 million. Before him, Gregg Berhalter earned about $2.2 million — less than half.
The extension would be funded through the same donor-backed model used for his original hire, CBS Sports reported. US Soccer commercial partners and private donors helped cover his premium salary from the start. That structure gives the federation flexibility to pay top-of-market rates without straining its core budget.
Pochettino Rebuilt a Culture of Accountability and Belief
Pochettino took over after the 2024 Copa America exposed deep problems under Gregg Berhalter. He introduced relentless pressing and a clear team identity that had been missing for years, according to analysts at CBS Sports. Observers note that every player in the pool now believes they can earn a real spot — not just a call-up.
He has "elevated the badge's value" and built in genuine competition for places, shifting the squad's mindset entirely. Pochettino stayed cautious about the Milan reports publicly. He said, "We don't want to distract when all the energy needs to be with my players," according to Forza Football.
A 2030 Vision That Goes Far Beyond One World Cup
An extension would give Pochettino oversight of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics squad and a likely 2028 Copa America on home soil. No international coach in the modern game routinely gets a six-year runway. US Soccer recently invested $250 million in a new national training center in Atlanta, signaling it wants a single technical leader to see that build-out through, according to AS USA.
Still, not everyone is sold on the timing. Soccer analyst Eric Wynalda and others argue the offer is "reactionary" — a move driven by Milan's pursuit rather than performance. Fox Sports notes that no deal will be signed until after the knockout rounds, and a Round of 32 exit could still change the calculus entirely.
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