Mauricio Pochettino set to decide US future next week after World Cup exit

Mauricio Pochettino is expected to reveal next week whether he will remain in charge of the United States after their disappointing World Cup campaign (Daily Mail).

The US were eliminated from the World Cup following a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the last 16, despite the controversial decision to suspend striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban.

The tournament hosts have now failed to progress from the last 16 in their last three World Cup appearances.

Despite the disappointing exit, US Soccer want to keep Pochettino. His current deal is worth around $6 million per year, and it expires at the end of this month.

However, the federation has reportedly offered him a new four-year contract that would keep him in charge until the end of the 2030 World Cup.

Pochettino has confirmed that discussions are ongoing and a final answer could be made soon.

He indicated after the defeat against Belgium that he wanted some time to reflect before discussing his future. Meanwhile, US Soccer are optimistic about tying him to a new long-term deal.

They still believe he’s the right candidate to lead the team into the next World Cup. However, not everyone agrees with that view.

Former US international Alexi Lalas has argued that it is time for the national team to move in a different direction. 

“I mean, it’s not that I want him to leave,” he said. “I just think that this cycle has run its course.

“It was an abject failure. It’s one thing to go out to Belgium – it’s another thing to go out in the way they went out, especially with the way that they looked through the tournament. 

“I don’t think the confidence and excitement was misplaced for this team, but they picked the worst possible day to play their worst possible game. 

“It’s obviously on Mauricio Pochettino and these players.”

Pochettino took the US job two years ago with an impressive CV that included spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

He was also briefly linked with AC Milan before they appointed former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.