Mauricio Pochettino is closing in on a new contract to stay as head coach of the United States men's national team through the 2030 World Cup, according to multiple reports published on July 29, 2026.

The Guardian, The Athletic, and Bleacher Report all describe the deal as close, with The Guardian reporting that Pochettino and US Soccer are in the "final stages" of finalising an extension. Telemundo's Andrés Cantor was first to break news of progress on the talks. A source briefed on the negotiations told The Guardian that both sides were eager to wrap things up so attention could shift to USMNT friendlies scheduled for late September and early October.

Pochettino took the US job in September 2024 — his first in international football after 15 years managing clubs across Europe, including spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Espanyol. His original contract ran through the 2026 World Cup, which the United States co-hosted this summer.

The tournament delivered mixed returns. The USMNT achieved its best-ever group-stage finish at a World Cup, a genuine high-water mark for the programme. But the run ended in the round of 16, where Belgium dismantled the Americans 4–1. Before the World Cup, both Pochettino and US Soccer had already signalled mutual interest in extending the relationship. On July 17, Pochettino told Spanish-language media that a decision on his future was coming "next week." The Guardian

His broader US tenure has had its bumps. The team finished fourth in the CONCACAF Nations League — the regional competition for North and Central American sides — and lost a Gold Cup final to Mexico. Yet US Soccer CEO JT Batson struck an upbeat tone, telling reporters the federation was "excited" about building on the progress made under Pochettino's watch.

The money involved is eye-catching. Pochettino earned roughly $6 million per year during his initial deal, making him the third-highest-paid international coach in world football. He also collected a $2.5 million signing bonus from US Soccer. A portion of that salary was subsidised by philanthropic support, most notably from hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin. A source close to the current negotiations said Pochettino stands to earn "significantly" more under the new contract.

For a while, European giants circled. Pochettino attracted interest from his former club Tottenham and was linked in the press with Real Madrid. Both have since filled their coaching vacancies, removing the most obvious escape routes back to the club game.

For American fans, the message is straightforward: the man brought in to modernise the programme is staying, and he is being handed the runway to see it through. The 2030 World Cup will be hosted across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco — a tournament on different soil, under different pressure, with four more years of Pochettino's imprint on a team still searching for its first deep run on the biggest stage.