It’s been two months since the US men’s national team crashed out of the World Cup in disappointing fashion, and their head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, is back at work. The former Tottenham and PSG manager was largely viewed as a short-term hire when he joined the US in 2024, brought on to help the team capitalize on their first home World Cup in more than three decades. Along the way, Pochettino and US Soccer warmed to the idea of a contract extension, one they finalized in August.
The US will play four friendlies in late September and early October against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, but that stretch of games pales in comparison to the larger task at hand. Pochettino must guide the US to qualification for the 2030 World Cup, of course, but the Argentinian – and the federation – have more ambitious goals that involve reshaping the structure of soccer in the United States. The US will also play at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and it’s been widely reported they may feature in the Copa América that same summer.
On Monday, Pochettino joined a small circle of reporters to talk about the task at hand. His quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and length.Pochettino’s expanded role Pochettino has said that choosing to remain with the US for another World Cup cycle is a chance for him to “have a lasting impact on the sport in the country that has welcomed us so warmly – and for that impact to extend beyond results on the field.” Indeed US Soccer’s announcement of Pochettino’s contract renewal came with an interesting wrinkle – the federation said the Argentinian would take a more prominent role steering the direction of youth development and coaching education, and would advise on professional league collaboration and a handful of other areas. That sort of broad influence isn’t exactly an alien concept in international soccer, but no US coach has ever taken such a prominent role in steering the direction of the program as a whole.
He will not have to wait long to make his mark, as US Soccer is undergoing a significant restructuring and is in the process of filling two new director roles for the men’s and women’s senior and youth programs. On Monday, Pochettino said he’s made it clear he’s happy to help with that process – “but it can’t [just] be my guy,” he said, laughing. And now it’s about being a part of the legacy that the federation wants to create – becoming one of the most powerful countries in soccer.
If we can be part of that, we are so excited and so happy.”On Folarin Balogun’s deadline day drama This summer’s transfer window was a decidedly quiet one for the USMNT. Aside from a few notable moves – Gio Reyna to Strasbourg, Sebastian Berhalter to Middlesbrough and Zavier Gozo’s leap from MLS to Crystal Palace – many players stayed put. The list includes Monaco forward Folarin Balogun, who seemed poised for a big-money move after a breakout World Cup.
Instead, Balogun saw a move to Everton fall apart at the last moment, with the Premier League club citing a potential fitness issue, something Monaco (and Balogun) both contested. Balogun is far from the first player to suffer a deadline day letdown, and Pochettino offered support for the 25-year-old on Monday. In some special cases, like Flo’s, I will call in the next few days.
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