The United States did not exactly live up to the high expectations in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, exiting in the Round of 16 yet again with a blowout loss to Belgium. However, the team did show promise in the earlier matches. As a result, it sounds like coach Mauricio Pochettino will be sticking around.
This week, the United States officially announced that the manager had signed a new deal with the team with the new contract running through the 2030 World Cup.
Despite the disappointing end of the team’s run through the 2026 World Cup, it’s clear that U.S. Soccer thinks the team is headed in the right direction under Pochettino.
“Mauricio and his staff believe in the future of soccer in the United States and our new project allows us to build on progress of the USMNT and the momentum of U.S. Soccer,” U.S. Soccer CEO and secretary general JT Batson said in a statement via ESPN. “We know we have a lot of work to do to achieve our clear ambitions, including competing to win Men’s World Cups and having soccer become the most played sport in every community. I couldn’t be more excited that Mauricio and team are committed to partnering with all of us to do the hard work to bring those ambitions to life.”
Pochettino expressed his excitement to be sticking with the team.
“Working together with U.S. Soccer over the past two years, it has become clear to us that there is tremendous potential to make the Men’s National Team program even stronger,” Pochettino said in a statement. “The passion we experienced from the fans throughout the World Cup only strengthened our belief in what is possible here. We are excited by the opportunity to bring all our experience and knowledge to even more areas of U.S. Soccer while helping strengthen the pathways for players, coaches and teams across the Federation.”
Ultimately, Pochettino also developed a connection with the team and fans that he wants to continue to build upon.
“I think the connection, that I think the magic thing that happened during the World Cup in the connection with the people, of course, with the whole organization and everything was a key point to make that decision,” Pochettino said during a roundtable with reporters about his decision to remain the U.S. manager.
Pochettino added that he feels the gap between the USMNT and the best teams in the world isn’t that big, and he wants to help close it.
“I think we will be capable to do things in a different way. I think to reduce that gap, I think it’s possible,” he said. “I think it’s possible because we have the talent, we have the organization, we have the capacity to create great atmosphere on the pitch and [we have] our fans, the help of our friends, the people that really believe in soccer.”
We’ll have to see how the team continues to perform under his leadership.
Source: The Comeback
