When the president of the United States asks your soccer coach whether the country can win the World Cup, you want the coach to have the right answer. Mauricio Pochettino did.
“Of course,” the Argentine-born manager told Donald Trump during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., back in December 2024.
The most expensive bet in US Soccer history
US Soccer brought Pochettino on in August 2024 to replace Gregg Berhalter. His annual salary sits at approximately $6 million, making him the highest-paid coach in the history of the federation. Pochettino’s resume includes managing Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League final and coaching stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. His contract runs through the 2026 tournament.
The December exchange that set the tone
