Mauricio Pochettino's future as head coach of the US men's national team is unresolved following the side's last-16 exit at the home 2026 World Cup, where they were beaten 4-1 by Belgium in Seattle. Both Pochettino and US Soccer had agreed before the tournament to defer any decision on his future until afterwards, and with the World Cup now over, talks are expected in the coming weeks. The outcome matters because it determines who will lead the programme through the next four-year cycle after a campaign widely seen as a missed opportunity on home soil.

Pochettino, an Argentinian appointed around 22 months ago as an experienced, high-profile hire, argued that the team had made incremental progress and that a proper "process" spans four years, saying he now has a clearer assessment of his players. US Soccer issued a statement praising him and his staff while stressing that considerable work remains to meet its ambitions, leaving the door open rather than committing. Observers note Pochettino, who had never coached a national team before, could either return to club football or choose to build on his work in the United States.