Mauricio Pochettino has signed a contract extension with the US, with the former Tottenham and PSG manager aiming to reshape the structure of soccer in the United States. Pochettino has said that choosing to remain with the US for another World Cup cycle is a chance for him to "have a lasting impact on the sport in the country that has welcomed us so warmly – and for that impact to extend beyond results on the field."
Pochettino's expanded role will see him take a more prominent position in shaping the future of American soccer, with US Soccer undergoing a significant restructuring and filling two new director roles for the men's and women's senior and youth programs. The US will play four friendlies in late September and early October against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada, but Pochettino's focus is on guiding the US to qualification for the 2030 World Cup.
The US will also play at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and Pochettino is eager to change the mentality of coaches and young players who decline call-ups, sometimes citing fitness or load management concerns.