Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT future: Will U.S. manager leave, and who could replace him if he does?

The USMNT huffed and puffed throughout the 2026 World Cup, appearing, for a moment, to look like it was a genuine threat in the competition.

But in the Round of 16, Mauricio Pochettino's side came crashing back down to earth. The USMNT suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of a Belgium side that looked underwhelming for much of the tournament.

Pochettino's bunch came undone behind a series of defensive calamities. It's hard to tell if the U.S.'s outing in this year's competition constituted a real success — the USMNT beat the sides it was expected to beat before falling to a Red Devils team that looked a step below the squads they touted in prior tournaments.

Nevertheless, Pochettino remains in the spotlight. With his contract slated to end at the end of the competition, onlookers are left with an all-too-familiar question: who will be the USMNT's coach after this year's World Cup.

Here's what we know so far about Pochettino's potential prospects.

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Will Maurico Pochettino be back with USMNT?

Pochettino's contract expires upon the conclusion of the World Cup. He's earned a pretty penny during his stint with the USMNT, posting a record of 17-2-12 in 31 matches. His 1.77 points per game mark ranks fourth among as U.S. managers who coached at least 30 games, trailing Gregg Berhalter, Bruce Arena and Jurgen Klinsmann.

Pochettino's performance against Belgium left something to be desired — Rudi Garcia outgunned him in the Round of 16 showdown, altering his setup to blight the USMNT's attacking threat. While Pochettino looked to have breathed life into the U.S. during the pool play and Round of 32, the fact remains that the United States had one of the easier groups and failed to take on a footballing "superpower" until Belgium — if you can even call this iteration of the Red Devils that. Pochettino's side was largely toothless against Grade-A competition and failed to assert itself as the tournament wore on.

MORE: Was USA's World Cup a success?

While Pochettino isn't all to blame for the U.S.'s toils, its unclear whether he or the U.S. Soccer Federation would like to see their working relationship continue. When asked about his future with the program, Pochettino was muted.

"In the next weeks, we can start to talk if the federation wants to talk," Pochettino said. "Right now, it's about resting a little bit, to think, have conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I'm so happy. We've built a very good relationship, now is not a moment to talk about my future."

Pochettino on if he wants to re-sign for another 4 years: "Now, it's about to rest, to think, to have conversations, and see what the decision is from the federation and from us. Now is not the moment to talk about that. Now is a moment to assess the tournament." #USMNT

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Mauricio Pochettino salary USMNT

In 2024, Pochettino inked a two-year deal to become the USMNT's head coach. The contract runs through the 2026 World Cup, expiring upon the conclusion of the tournament.

Reports citing U.S. Soccer's tax filings indicate that the 54-year-old earns about $6 million a year in base salary. Per Salary Leaks, that makes him the third-highest-paid international men's coach, trailing England's Thomas Tuchel and Brazil's Carlo Ancelotti.

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How much does Mauricio Pochettino get paid?

Pochettino earns about $6 million a year in base salary, per U.S. Soccer's tax filings. That makes him one of the world's highest-paid international soccer coaches. World Soccer Talk reported that Pochettino's pre-World Cup salary was only eclipsed by Brazil's Carlo Ancelotti ($11.3 million) and former Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann ($7.9 million). Club coaches typically earn higher salaries than their international counterparts — their job is far more intensive than a national team's coach. Nevertheless, Pochettino has reportedly earned $12 million across his USMNT career. 

DeCOURCY: Ugly World Cup loss to Belgium will make it hard to believe in the future of USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino next job

It's unclear what Pochettino's future prospects are. His remarks post-match would appear to suggest he might be open to returning to the USMNT camp for another two-year or four-year cycle. Still, there's always the possibility that Pochettino seeks a return to the club level. He enjoyed plenty of success at Southampton, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain. Other lucrative jobs could very well be on the horizon for the 54-year-old, with coaching vacancies emerging like decaying leaves on an autumn day.

His penchant for developing young talent could make him a big draw for a European giant in a year's time. At first glance, Pochettino appears to have more leverage than the U.S. Soccer Federation, so it seems likely that he'll attempt to keep his options open.

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USMNT coaching candidates should Mauricio Pochettino leave his job

Should Pochettino leave his post, the USMNT would do well to make calls to Pep Guardiola, who stepped away from his role at Manchester City following a glittering 11-year run. The Catalonia-born manager is one of football's greatest-ever tacticians and would likely represent the biggest get the USMNT.

Another noteworthy candidate could be Jurgen Klopp, who currently serves as the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull GmbH. The former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss’s "heavy metal" style of play is built around Gegenpressing, a strategy that sees teams attempt to retrieve the ball high up the field after losing possession. He is currently heavily linked to the open German national team job and may end up coaching his country in the near future. If not, however, the United States could make a play. The USMNT has plenty of robustness around its roster, with players like Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Alex Freeman looking like natural talents to slot into such a setup. Perhaps that could be appealing to the U.S. Soccer Federation.

MORE: How old will Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, other USMNT stars be in 2030 World Cup?

More realistic targets include U.S.-born Pellegrino Matarazzo, who recently captured his first trophy with Real Sociedad, or Steve Cherundolo, who turned LAFC into an MLS powerhouse prior to his 2025 departure. Gareth Southgate and Wilfried Nancy were linked with the job heavily prior to Pochettino's appointment and could garner some interest, although it's unlikely their stocks are as high as they were when they were bandied about for the gig in 2024.

The federation could attempt to wrestle England U-21 boss Lee Carsley out of the Three Lions' setup, although he could be in the running for the senior team's job whenever Thomas Tuchel departs.

All of that is to say, the possibilities remain endless for the U.S. in the event Pochettino leaves his role. Only time will tell what path the USMNT will take going forward.