USMNT’s Mauricio Pochettino Energized by Connection, Culture as Next World Cup Cycle Beckons
Pochettino begins new chapter with U.S. Men’s National Team under a new contract with U.S. Soccer
By: Ethan Triebsch
Mauricio Pochettino greets fans at the Orange County Great Park ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 training in Irvine, Calif.
“Professionally we are so excited, as we've talked about, but in another area, which is also important for us, after the World Cup we felt really sad when we traveled back to Europe,” Pochettino admitted. “It felt like that relationship had ended, and we started to feel empty. It's true that we really love the culture of the USA, the music and the people. We feel very welcomed. We felt the love from the people. You are amazing people. It's an amazing country with different types of cultures across one big country.
“We adapted very well, and during the last few weeks we missed the possibility of sharing all those experiences. It's true that I was a little bit melancholy, and I was listening to a lot of country music. I think we match [with the United States’ culture] with our way of behaving, with our personalities and character. We're also so excited to continue sharing with the people and the fans because we really appreciate the way people treated us here.”
Pochettino’s presence has energized not just the players he leads, but also supporters across the country. From the nascent fans just starting to discover the game to the venerable supporter who’s backed the Stars and Stripes through thick and thin, year in and year out, Pochettino’s USMNT has revitalized America’s soccer ethos, largely thanks to an energizing World Cup campaign. None of that would be possible without the connections built by Pochettino and his staff, and those they still hope to build.
“Connection is key. It's really important for us. Before the World Cup the feeling was different, but during the World Cup the connection was amazing,” Pochettino shared. “We saw what the people are capable of creating. I think soccer can become one of the principal sports in the USA, not only in the rest of the world. People were so excited by what they were seeing on the field, and I think we created a very good connection.
“That's why it's so important for me to start this process in Orlando, St. Louis, Arizona or Minnesota. Every time we have the opportunity to play in our country, for sure we're going to have that support. Not only because of the World Cup, but in every non-official game or even official games—the Nations League, Gold Cup, and through to the World Cup—we need to build that connection again and keep it going because that is very powerful.”
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino is back. The U.S. Soccer Federation on Monday announced that the 54-year-old Argentine and his staff had agreed to a new contract through 2030. Pochettino and the USMNT are coming off a strong run at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and the coach will now be tasked with leading the Stars and Stripes through the next World Cup cycle.
“There are too many things,” Pochettino said of what excites him about returning. “But one of the things is to open a new chapter, seeing the potential of our fans and all the people in this amazing country that is the USA, what they showed us during the World Cup. I think it's an amazing opportunity to be bold, but to be part of creating, evolving and developing an amazing new four-year cycle. I think an important thing is to feel that we can be part of it, to help and to grow in the direction that the vision that the Federation has.”
Less than two years since his appointment on Sept. 10, 2024, Pochettino has injected the team with a palpable energy and fresh sense of belief. By the time the Concacaf Gold Cup kicked off on June 15 in San Jose, Calif., the team began to write a new script as Pochettino’s influence on the team became more apparent.
Reaching the Gold Cup Final, the United States compiled an 8W-2L-2D record in its final 12 matches of 2025, concluding Pochettino’s first full year at the helm with an emphatic 5-1 victory against 14th-ranked Uruguay in Tampa, Fla.—the USMNT’s biggest win against a South American opponent and joint-largest margin of victory against an opponent ranked in the top 15 of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking. The result against two-time World Cup champion Uruguay also marked the first time since 2013 that the USMNT had gone unbeaten against top-40-ranked opponents in five consecutive matches. All five teams were also already qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
This summer, Pochettino guided the Stars and Stripes to the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, setting several records along the way. The USMNT’s three-win World Cup campaign was its highest scoring in program history (11 goals), featured the first knockout stage victory since 2002, snapped a 10-match losing streak against European opposition and confirmed Pochettino’s position as the winningest USMNT coach at the World Cup.
“We were talking a lot in the last few weeks, the coaching staff, trying to open a new chapter and not make it a continuation of what happened in the last 18 or 19 months that we were working. We were only focused on arriving at the World Cup in the best condition,” Pochettino shared. “Now the approach is going to be different, and it must be different, because it's a four-year cycle. It's a project that is about establishing different principles.
“I think all this time, from finishing the World Cup until today, we have talked a lot with the board and the whole organization of the Federation to try to settle new principles, approach things in a different way, and build what we want. The vision from the Federation is very clear and very exciting. To be part of that project was key for us, and to work together as partners is going to be an amazing situation.”
Pochettino is supported by a coaching staff consisting of Jesús Pérez, Miguel D'Agostino, Toni Jiménez, Sebastiano Pochettino and Sílvia Tuyà—most of whom have been with him for more than 15 years, following stops at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, among other world-renowned clubs.
“We know we need to work a lot, and there are going to be ups and downs during the process, but we're very confident that we can start from zero today, creating new challenges and new approaches in everything—not only on the pitch but off the field,” Pochettino added. “I think it's a great opportunity for us. I am so grateful. All of the coaching staff are so grateful for this opportunity and for the Federation's trust—from Cindy [Parlow Cone], JT [Batson] and Dan [Helfrich], and of course everyone behind the organization. I want to say thank you for trusting us.”
Committed to our future. ✔️
Mauricio Pochettino and @ussoccer have agreed on a new contract to continue as the #USMNT head coach through 2030! 🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) August 3, 2026
In addition to several key non-official matches—like the batch of fall matches announced Tuesday morning—Pochettino and the USMNT will participate in a number of high-stakes competitions between now and the 2030 FIFA World Cup: the Concacaf Gold Cup (2027, 2029), the Concacaf Nations League (2026-27, 2028-29) and World Cup qualifiers (2027-29).
Additionally, while Pochettino won’t be leading the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team at the 2028 Summer Olympics or the other U.S. Youth National Teams at the U-17 and U-20 FIFA World Cups, the USMNT boss and his staff will surely be monitoring the sides to see which players have the potential to break into the senior squad ahead of the World Cup in 2030.
“During the [2026 World Cup roster selection] process, I think we met more than 70 players, and I think we have the talent,” Pochettino said. “We're also seeing new talented players starting to appear—16-, 17-, 18-, and 19-year-olds with the possibility and potential to become important players at the next World Cup. What we're seeing is amazing potential.
“MLS clubs are working really, really well; the coaches and organizations deserve congratulations because they're doing a fantastic job. Also, the vision of the people who work in the Federation—from top to bottom—and everyone investing in soccer in the USA, including the people behind the scenes who are helping the sport grow, creates an amazing mix. It makes us very optimistic about the future, and being part of that is an honor for us.”
Moving forward, Pochettino and his staff will be entrusted with a greater advisory role within the Federation as it relates to the broader development of the full National Team pathway, youth soccer, coaching education, professional league collaboration and beyond.
“I think every single area needs to believe it can create a big impact on the field, because the most important [thing] is the result and the performance,” Pochettino said of the greater soccer ecosystem in the United States. “In our experience, it's important to create another project, another idea, and a different philosophy in terms of culture. First of all, we need to assess ourselves [as coaches] and try to provide a different way of seeing things to the Federation. I think it's every single area. We need to translate that idea because the impact is so important for us. Every single area should have a real impact on the performance of the players.”
Before joining the USMNT in 2024, Pochettino spent 32 years as a player and a coach exclusively in South America and Europe. Still, less than two years into his first stint in North America, the Argentine has come to admire the United States, its culture and its people, and what it means to lead the Stars and Stripes.
