USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino addresses AC Milan links as World Cup nears

On May 29, 2026

With the first of the U.S. Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup warm-up friendlies just days away, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been the subject of much discussion regarding his long-term future, rather than the upcoming tournament.

Having first joined the USMNT back in September 2024 after his tenure with Chelsea came to a close, Pochettino is under contract through the upcoming U.S., Mexico, and Canada co-hosted competition.

Heading into the World Cup, Pochettino has yet to commit his future beyond the World Cup to the USMNT, nor has he signed on the dotted line with another team, domestic or international – although the expectation has long been that after the competition, he would return to club management.

Pochettino’s side is currently preparing for the World Cup in Georgia -Credit:John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images

After being linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur and the Real Madrid hot seat, the latest position touted as a potential landing spot for Pochettino is AC Milan, which has been left without a head coach after Massimiliano Allegri was let go after just one season back at San Siro, as per The Athletic.

Looking to address this hot topic early, U.S. Soccer’s CEO and Secretary General, JT Batson, recently told reporters that Pochettino had long been “transparent about club interest,” but that he remained “confident that Mauricio and team are 100 percent focused on this summer.”

However, unsurprisingly, this did little to quell the rumor mill, with Pochettino attempting to avoid going into too much detail when speaking with reporters about the matter on Thursday, even claiming that “People that question my commitment are people that want to create some problems.”

Pochettino repeatedly stated that he had not spoken with anybody at Milan, although when asked if his representatives had done so, he replied, “Maybe. Possible. Because they need to do their job, my representatives.

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“You think all the people that represent different coaches have no conversations with different clubs? For different reasons.”

Pochettino wasn’t going to escape the topic that cleanly, however, as he was asked once more if he’d met with any Rossoneri bosses later on, to which he responded, “When and with who? If I met someone, what happens? What is going to change? My contract finishes in July. If the federation wants to talk with me about the future, it’s similar. It’s a similar thing.”

Pochettino has previously said that he is open-minded to potentially sticking with the USMNT beyond the World Cup, something which appears to still be on the table, having recently had dinner with Batson in New York, where he said the topic of extending his deal came up.

“We said of course we are open,” he said. “We have full respect to the USA, we have full respect to the federation.

“We are so grateful to the federation [for] what they are giving [us], with the possibility to be involved in a dream. Because as a coaching staff it’s difficult to have the possibility to be involved in a World Cup. For me, we are so grateful to USA and the federation and we have an amazing relationship.”

USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino looking on during a game — Pochettino did not deny that his representatives may have spoken to AC Milan -Credit:Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images

In spite of all of the noise surrounding Pochettino and his future, he remained defiant in his commitment to the USMNT, stating, “If I don’t have commitment, what am I doing here? If I have the possibility to [go to] another club?

“It is disrespectful. Because I am here. I am here. I am not going to go away tomorrow. If another club came and said, ‘We want you, but you have to start tomorrow.’ I say, ‘Sorry, I committed with the national team.’ Whether it’s the best club in the world. They can give me all the promises. I am not going to change.”

Regardless of whether or not Pochettino will be wearing the black and red of Milan, the red and white of the USMNT, or other colors altogether following this summer, it seems he is steadfast in his desire to focus on the here and now and respect his contract with U.S. Soccer in the process.

Next up for the USMNT are friendlies against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6, before they kick off their World Cup campaign against Group D rivals Paraguay on June 12.

Crédito: Link de origem