Mauricio Pochettino’s return is a colossal US Soccer win — under one condition
New York Post · RC · trust 56/100
Ethan Sears Mauricio Pochettino’s return is a colossal US Soccer win — under one condition By Ethan Sears Published Aug. 3, 2026, 6:19 p.m. ET Mauricio Pochettino shakes hands with US player Sebastian Berhalter after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match USA against Belgium. CHRISTOPHER TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock Virtually no one outside U.S. Soccer thought that Mauricio Pochettino would stay as the men’s national team coach after the World Cup, so factor that into the wave of skepticism regarding his staying all four years of the next cycle.
Four years is the length of the extension that the federation announced Monday morning. If Pochettino stays for the duration, it will likely prove to be the right move for the national team, which — setting aside for a moment its spectacular Round of 16 flameout against Belgium — progressed both culturally and in its style of play under the Argentine’s leadership.
World Cup’s success will pay off for soccer in US — but real growth is a slow burn The prospect of a full four-year cycle in which Pochettino can operate with more time and latitude than he had leading into this World Cup is more compelling than the other options at U.S. Soccer’s disposal.
The U.S. won’t lack competitions, with the Nations League coming up, the Gold Cup next summer, a likely home Copa America in 2028 and World Cup qualifying after that. Pochettino, whose insistence on taking friendlies seriously has been a trademark of his tenure, is the right person to ensure not just players, but the fanbase the USMNT started to build this summer , understand the importance of it all, starting with the next international window in late September.
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