"Now is not a moment to talk about my future." That was Mauricio Pochettino after Belgium's 4-1 dismantling of the USMNT in the Round of 16 — measured, noncommittal, and telling in equal measure.
His contract expires with the tournament. The U.S. Soccer Federation needs to decide whether the man who went 17-2-12 across 31 matches, earning $6 million a year in the process, is the right person to lead the program into its next cycle. That's not an easy call to make after watching his side look toothless the moment it faced genuine quality.
The case for Pochettino isn't nothing. He inherited a messy situation, steadied the ship, and navigated pool play and the Round of 32 with relative composure. His 1.77 points-per-game average ranks fourth among USMNT managers with at least 30 matches — behind Gregg Berhalter, Bruce Arena, and Jurgen Klinsmann. But the Belgium game exposed a recurring problem: this squad still doesn't have an answer when a well-organized opponent takes away their transition game. Rudi Garcia figured it out in 90 minutes.
The replacement list is longer than it looks
If Pochettino walks — or is nudged toward the door — the USMNT's candidate list is genuinely interesting at the top end.
Pep Guardiola is available after stepping away from Manchester City following an 11-year run. Getting him would be the biggest appointment in USMNT history, full stop. Whether he has any interest in an international role is a different question entirely.
Jurgen Klopp is currently Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull and heavily linked with the vacant Germany job. If that doesn't materialize, the U.S. could make a serious pitch — the roster has the athletic profile his gegenpressing system demands, with players like Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Folarin Balogun fitting the mold naturally.
More realistic options include:
- Pellegrino Matarazzo — U.S.-born, just won his first trophy with Real Sociedad, knows both the European and American football landscapes
- Steve Cherundolo — built LAFC into an MLS powerhouse before leaving in 2025, understands the player pool intimately
- Gareth Southgate and Wilfried Nancy — both linked heavily before Pochettino was appointed in 2024, though neither's stock sits quite where it did then
- Lee Carsley — currently managing England's U-21s, though he may be first in line for the senior Three Lions role when Tuchel departs
Pochettino holds the leverage here
At 54, with a track record at Southampton, Tottenham, and PSG, Pochettino doesn't need to take whatever the federation offers. Club jobs will emerge — they always do for managers with his pedigree and reputation for developing young players. He's earned roughly $12 million across his USMNT tenure. He can afford to wait for the right offer.
The federation, meanwhile, is the one with a timeline problem. The next World Cup cycle starts now, and the 2026 tournament didn't deliver the defining moment U.S. Soccer was hoping to point to. A 4-1 loss to a Belgium side well past its golden generation isn't a disaster, but it isn't a foundation either.
Pochettino says the conversations will start "in the next weeks." Whatever comes out of those talks, the U.S. Soccer Federation would do well to enter them knowing exactly what they want — because this time, they won't have a home World Cup to use as a selling point.
