US Soccer went and hired one of the most recognizable names in global football to lead its men’s national team into a home World Cup. Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine manager who previously ran the sidelines at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, took the job in September 2024 with a single mandate: win a knockout-round match for the first time since 2002.
His price tag reflects the ambition. Pochettino’s base annualized salary sits at approximately $6.04 million, making him the highest-paid coach in the history of the US Men’s National Team.
The record so far
Through May 2026, Pochettino has compiled a record of 13 wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses. The real test arrives this summer when the US hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The last time the USMNT advanced past the group stage and won a knockout match was in 2002, when the squad shocked Mexico in the Round of 16 before falling to Germany.
