Mauricio Pochettino’s contract as U.S. men’s national team head coach is set to expire at the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and despite one of Italy’s historic clubs circling for his services, the Argentine remains committed to the job at hand.
Pochettino vowed his commitment to the USMNT following reports that his representatives met with AC Milan over their managerial vacancy. The Rossoneri parted ways with Massimiliano Allegri at the conclusion of the Serie A season after failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the second-straight campaign.
Pochettino is currently leading his USMNT squad ahead of their final two friendlies before World Cup play begins. The Argentine most recently named his 26-player roster for the summer tournament, which begins on June 12.
Pochettino was previously linked with the opening at his former club Tottenham during the 2025-26 Premier League season, as well as Brentford before the Bees appointed Keith Andrews to the position. Although Pochettino could make a return to Europe by the start of the next European season, he confirmed his focus is with the USMNT.
“We always say we finish our contract in July after the World Cup,” Pochettino told reporters on Thursday from training camp in Fayetteville, Georgia. “Of course that we have approaches and…of course I met some people, different clubs. But that is a conversation because we have friends in football. We have friends everywhere, and my representatives work for me to try to find the best possibility for the future. That is normal.
“If a club came and say, ‘Oh Mauricio, we want you, but you need to start tomorrow,’ I say, ‘Sorry, I commit with the [U.S.] national team,’” he added.
Pochettino previously confirmed his interest in extending with U.S. Soccer after the World Cup, should positive discussions happen between the two parties. The USMNT reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 tournament in Qatar and will be seeking a deeper run on home soil over the next month.
U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson also spoke to reporters on Thursday about Pochettino’s continued commitment to the program regardless of his contract situation and potential exit later this summer.
“[Pochettino] and the entire team has been incredibly transparent [through] the entire process,” Batson said. “So even when we first met a couple summers ago, there are lots of other people interested in having Mauricio and team join. He had standing offers from other places to come and he wanted to be here. He’s a big believer in what we’re doing at U.S. Soccer. He’s a big believer in soccer in America and he’s a big believer in this men’s team.”
“He [Batson] asked if we are open to listen [to] the project of the federation for the next four years,” Pochettino said. “And we said, ‘Of course that we are open’. Do you think that if we have a commitment with another people, we are going to waste time to listen?”
Pochettino has won 13 of his 24 matches in charge of the USMNT since taking over in September 2024. Prior to joining U.S. Soccer, the Argentine spent 15 years coaching in Europe, most notably at Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea.
The USMNT will take on Paraguay in Los Angeles for their opening Group D match on June 12, but first friendlies with Senegal and Germany will take place over the next nine days.