Mauricio Pochettino is about to announce whether he will continue as the head coach of the United States or take a different path, with a decision possibly being made as early as next week. The 54-year-old Argentine coach revealed on Thursday in an interview with a Spanish radio station that he is still considering the contract renewal proposal that has been presented to him, despite the humiliating 4-1 defeat against Belgium in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
On the same day, the CEO of the U.S. Soccer Federation, JT Batson, confirmed that negotiations are still “active” to keep Pochettino at the helm of the national team. The coach, who is the highest-paid in the history of North American soccer, with a salary exceeding six million dollars, was hired to replace Gregg Berhalter in 2024 and has received an offer to remain until the 2030 World Cup.
Pochettino commented: “I received an offer to continue, and we will see. We are evaluating. Next week, we will make a decision.” The current contract ends after the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday. Despite the inconsistent performance of the national team under his command, with losses to several teams considered to be of lesser caliber, he managed to lead the U.S. to win the group in the group stage, with victories over Paraguay and Australia, and to overcome Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.
The elimination against Belgium, coached by Rudi Garcia, was the heaviest for the U.S. in a World Cup knockout stage since 1934, recording the highest television audience ever in the United States for a soccer match, with over 50 million viewers. This defeat has raised doubts about the coach's future, who has yet to decide whether to accept staying in the position.
Pochettino's decision will have a significant impact on the future of North American soccer and the team's preparation for upcoming international challenges. The continuation of the coach could provide stability, but the loss to one of the world's top teams raises questions about the need for a change in the technical leadership of the national team. Next week will be decisive in determining whether the Argentine coach will continue to lead the United States toward new goals.
NOW YOU CAN FOLLOW THE WORLD CUP WITH ALL THE INFORMATION – HERE
O MUNDIAL 2026 VIVE-SE COM A LEGO
AGORA PODE ACOMPANHAR O MUNDIAL DE FUTEBOL COM TODA INFORMAÇÃO – AQUI
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
