Pochettino isn’t ruling out a USMNT exit before the next World Cup

On Sep 13, 2026

The next chapter of Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure in charge of the United States men’s national team is about to get underway. With a new FIFA international window arriving at the end of September, the Argentine coach has already begun preparing his next roster ahead of a series of friendly matches.

This summer’s World Cup is now in the rearview mirror, and with it everything Pochettino accomplished during his first two and a half years leading the Stars and Stripes. The USMNT head coach, who signed a four-year contract extension in August, is now focused firmly on the future and the challenges that lie ahead.

This time, however, things are different. Unlike his first stint with the U.S. national team, Pochettino acknowledges that circumstances could change, and he is not ruling out the possibility of departing before reaching his next major target with the program.

“Not it’s a long period”

Speaking to The Athletic, Pochettino explained that, during his previous cycle, he was fully committed to leading the USMNT through the World Cup and honoring his agreement with U.S. Soccer, even when interest from club teams emerged. In this new chapter, though, he admits the situation is different. If results do not go as planned, or if an attractive club opportunity arises in the future, a departure would not necessarily be prevented by a long-term commitment or by the federation itself.

“Now it’s a four-year contract, it’s different,” Pochettino said. “We can next season lose the Copa América, or the Gold Cup, and they’re not happy with us, they can sack us. Or we can say, ‘OK, it’s not the way that we think.’ Four years is different. Maybe now if someone calls in the future, it’s a different type [of situation]. We are excited, we are thinking to spend four years, to the next World Cup. But now it’s a long period.”

What’s next for Pochettino and the USMNT?

The first FIFA international window following the World Cup will provide four new tests for Pochettino and the USMNT, with matchups against familiar CONCACAF rivals and a pair of South American opponents well known to the Argentine.

The USMNT is set to face Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada during the international window spanning late September and early October. The expectation is that Pochettino will begin reshaping the roster after the World Cup, potentially ushering in a new generation of players and giving fresh faces an opportunity with the national team.