Mauricio Pochettino would not commit to his future after the United States lost to Belgium at the World Cup on Monday. The 54-year-old will speak with the federation about a return to the USMNT for the next four-year cycle at a later date.
He is open to multiple opportunities.
No matter what happens with the current gaffer, the U.S. soccer team is better off today than it was two years ago. It would be great to get another four years in this same system.
Mauricio Pochettino vs. Gregg Berhalter
It is not entirely fair to compare Mauricio Pochettino to Gregg Berhalter. For either party. They each took over the United States Men’s National Soccer Team at two very different stages. They had different rosters. It is not apples to apples.
However, if we are to look only at on-field results, the two coaches ultimately finished the same when it mattered the most.
- Gregg Berhalter
- Gold Cup champion
- Two-time Nations League champion
- Qualified for World Cup
- Second in group
- Round of 16 loss
- Mauricio Pochettino
- Zero trophies
- Automatically qualified for World Cup
- First in group
- Round of 16 loss
Now, anyone who actually watched the United States during these two stretches could see that it was not the same team. Pochettino brought new life to a program that stalled out under Berhalter. He changed the mentality of the organization. This current team showed more skill and coherence in the last two months than in the previous tenure combined.
Don’t get me wrong, the decision to let Berhalter go was long overdue. It was a disastrous run in more ways that one.
Pochettino was the big-splash hire who came in and won as many games at the World Cup as the last three World Cup combined. The USMNT looked competent during its first four matches, which was rarely the case under the previous regime. They were creative on offense and stout on defense. Even the second-half adjustments worked against Belgium until the Matt Freese debacle.
Belgium finds a third pic.twitter.com/0m1Hu4qzwR
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026
And yet, despite all of the positive momentum, the result was the exact same in the end.
The guy who was hired to win the big game could not win the big game. Bummer.
Who will be the next coach of the United States Men’s National Soccer Team?
Most people would agree that Mauricio Pochettino is the top choice to lead this team through the next four-year cycle. What he did for this team over the last two years was more than enough to earn another opportunity. I would run through a wall for Poch. It would be great to see what he can do with this young core with more time.
However, the stint with the United States was expected to be a short stopover for the elite club manager. It was a two-year deal that will expire after this tournament. Pochettino was considered likely to leave afterward. We knew this when the hire was announced.
Real Madrid was in pursuit of Pochettino prior to the international tournament. Other club teams would love to have him. Maybe he will leave. Maybe he won’t.
The highly-touted coach was not willing to discuss his future after the loss to Belgium.
“Now is not a moment to talk about that. I think now is a moment to see, to assess the tournament. You know, I’m sure in the next weeks we can start to talk if [U.S. Soccer] wants to talk.”
People tried to read into his body language and choice of words during his interview with Jenny Taft.
USA manager Mauricio Pochettino caught up with our @JennyTaft after the match pic.twitter.com/aQ8OMo9x2p
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026
His message to the team focused on family.
Our @JennyTaft caught up with Mauricio Pochettino postgame about his message to the team pic.twitter.com/6tJQ74lzcf
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026
Regardless of who is in charge, Pochettino thinks the United States is in a great spot. If he does decide to move on, he undoubtedly left the organization better than he found it.
“I think we set the principles for the future to be very successful. I think we feel proud because … We’ll create something that is going to stay now in the federation and in this country […] I think this team showed that we can play football, we can play soccer, we can compete. A lot of young players with a lot of potential and future, and I think a generation of young kids that are coming behind. I think only [that you should] keep believing in that process.”
What does it mean? We don’t know. The United States Soccer Federation would be foolish not to extend a blank check to Pochettino. Make him say no.
If Poch does say no and does not choose to return, other names on the hot board could include Didier Deschamps, Pep Guardiola, Pellegrino Matarazzo, Steve Cherundolo or even Jesse Marsch. Lets hope it doesn’t even get to that point.