United States Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino suggested Monday that his tenure with the squad could extend beyond the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Speaking to media ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly against Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Argentine tactician left the door open for future discussions.
“Who knows what is going to happen,” Pochettino said. “We are open. We don’t have (a) contract for the future but why not if we are happy and the federation is happy?”
“You can never say never. In football, everything can happen. I am very happy. Of course it is tough, it is a massive challenge, it is a bigger challenge than we thought or believed when we came here. But we are a coaching staff that loves a challenge.”
The 54-year-old manager joined the USMNT during summer 2024 under an agreement that concludes following the 2026 World Cup. The expanded 48-nation tournament will kick off June 11 and run through July 19, with games hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Recent speculation has connected Pochettino with vacant positions at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and Spanish giants Real Madrid, both of which dismissed their previous managers during the current campaign.
Throughout the past year, Pochettino has occasionally voiced interest in returning to European club management, where he previously guided Southampton, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and notably Tottenham from 2014 to 2019.
Regarding his former London club, Pochettino acknowledged his enduring emotional ties.
“It is impossible to feel nothing wrong about Tottenham, about the club, about the people that work there and about the fans,” he explained. “It was one of the best experiences of my life. Of course it’s my wish … and I think they are going to stay up. With coach or without coach.”
Despite the rumors, Pochettino emphasized Monday that neither Tottenham nor Real Madrid has approached him about potential opportunities following the World Cup, and he would not entertain such conversations until after the tournament concludes.
“Everyone knows that I am committed with the national team here,” Pochettino stated. “It’s not a point to talk about the future. At the moment, no one approached. Who knows what is going to happen.”
Tottenham, which dismissed Thomas Frank in February before parting ways with replacement Igor Tudor after only 44 days, has reportedly extended a lucrative long-term offer to Italian manager Roberto De Zerbi that would rank him among the Premier League’s highest-compensated coaches, according to The Athletic.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa has delivered remarkable results since replacing the terminated Xabi Alonso in mid-January, capturing 17 victories in 21 matches.
