Mauricio Pochettino to return as U.S. men’s soccer coach for 2030 World Cup

The 54-year-old Argentine led America to the round of 16 in the recently completed World Cup, played on home soil.

Mauricio Pochettino agreed to remain U.S. Soccer’s men’s national team coach through the 2030 World Cup, insisting there’s “tremendous potential” to bring America to the sport’s upper echelons, officials said Monday.

The new contract to keep Pochettino in red, white and blue came less than a month after the 54-year-old Argentine led the U.S. to the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, played on home soil.

“Mauricio and his staff believe in the future of soccer in the United States and our new project allows us to build on progress of the USMNT and the momentum of U.S. Soccer,” U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary-General JT Batson said in a statement.

“We know we have a lot of work to do to achieve our clear ambitions, including competing to win Men’s World Cups and having soccer become the most played sport in every community,” the statement said. “I couldn’t be more excited that Mauricio and team are committed to partnering with all of us to do the hard work to bring those ambitions to life.”

While the Americans failed to make it to the quarterfinals, Pochettino insisted his team’s World Cup run “only strengthened our belief in what is possible here.”