Mauricio Pochettino Focuses On USA World Cup Campaign Amid AC Milan Links

Mauricio Pochettino admits interest around his future exists but insists full attention stays on the United States’ World Cup campaign on home soil. The USA head coach will not walk away before the tournament ends, despite links with AC Milan after the Italian club dismissed Massimiliano Allegri.

U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson stressed that internal discussions with Pochettino have stayed clear and open since the appointment. "[Pochettino], and the entire team, has been incredibly transparent [through] the entire process," Batson told reporters, underlining that the federation has known about outside interest from the start.

Batson explained that rival clubs tried to secure Pochettino before the USA role was confirmed. "So even when we first met a couple summers ago, there are lots of other people interested in having Mauricio and team join." "He had standing offers from other places to come, and he wanted to be here." Batson said Pochettino chose the project with the U.S. men’s national team.

According to Batson, Pochettino strongly supports the long-term plan at U.S. Soccer. "He's a big believer in what we're doing at U.S. Soccer." "He's a big believer in soccer in America, and he's a big believer in this men's team." Batson added that competition for high-performing staff is normal across football and other industries.

Since taking charge in September 2024, the former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager has recorded 13 wins, two draws and seven defeats. That mixed run shapes expectations for the World Cup, which will be Pochettino’s first as a head coach after previous tournament experience only as a defender for Argentina.

The Argentine’s playing memories at World Cup level are from 2002, when Argentina exited in the group stage. Pochettino started all three matches at that tournament and was involved in a key moment against England, conceding the decisive penalty in a 1-0 loss that contributed to Argentina’s early elimination.

Reports in Italy and elsewhere recently suggested Pochettino is in line to replace Allegri at Milan. The club parted company with Allegri after a poor finish to their campaign, which opened a high-profile vacancy. Pochettino denied direct talks but accepted that interest might be handled by representatives without every step being relayed immediately.

Pochettino addressed that possibility when speaking about his future. "My representatives? It may be possible because they need to do their job," he said. He then set a clear timeline regarding any move away from the USA role. "We always say we finish our contract in July after the World Cup. Of course that we have approaches and of course I met some people, different clubs. But that is a conversation because we have friends in football. We have friends everywhere, and my representatives work for me to try to find the best possibility for the future. That is normal. If a club came and say, 'Oh Mauricio, we want you, but you need to start tomorrow,' I say, 'Sorry, I commit with the [U.S.] national team'."

Batson said such conversations match what U.S. Soccer expected when hiring a coach of Pochettino’s profile. "And so throughout this entire process, when you have top-class talentwhether it's salespeople, whether it's marketing people or whether it's coachesother organisations want them." "And throughout this, Mauricio and team have been incredibly transparent." "They've been great partners, and we're of course excited about the summer." With that stance, both parties present a united front heading into the World Cup.