Virtually no one outside U.S. Soccer thought that Mauricio Pochettino would stay as the men’s national team coach after the World Cup, so factor that into the wave of skepticism regarding his staying all four years of the next cycle.
Four years is the length of the extension that the federation announced Monday morning. If Pochettino stays for the duration, it will likely prove to be the right move for the national team, which — setting aside for a moment its spectacular Round of 16 flameout against Belgium — progressed both culturally and in its style of play under the Argentine’s leadership.
The prospect of a full four-year cycle in which Pochettino can operate with more time and latitude than he had leading into this World Cup is more compelling than the other options at U.S. Soccer’s disposal.
The U.S. won’t lack competitions, with the Nations League coming up, the Gold Cup next summer, a likely home Copa America in 2028 and World Cup qualifying after that. Pochettino, whose insistence on taking friendlies seriously has been a trademark of his tenure, is the right person to ensure not just players, but the fanbase the USMNT started to build this summer, understand the importance of it all, starting with the next international window in late September.
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