U.S. Soccer in active Pochettino talks after World Cup exit — SkimNews
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- U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson said the federation is in 'active discussions' with Mauricio Pochettino and his staff about the future, with the contract renewal offered before the World Cup still on the table and Pochettino the federation's top pick heading into the 2030 tournament.
- The USMNT was eliminated from the World Cup on July 6 in a 4-1 defeat to Belgium — their fourth successive round-of-16 exit — despite a summer of strong fan engagement and watch parties across the country.
- Pochettino's staff were 'a key part' of the process to hire former U.S. international Steve Cherundolo as U-23 head coach for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, per Batson.
- U.S. Soccer is operating without a sporting director after Matt Crocker's April departure, with COO Dan Helfrich temporarily overseeing sporting decisions; Helfrich pointed to assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu and women's coach Emma Hayes as part of the group effort on 'near-term choices and longer-term structure.'
- President Trump took credit for FIFA's rare decision to place forward Folarin Balogun on probation and clear him to play against Belgium after a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, though FIFA denied the president's involvement.
- Balogun told CBS Mornings the late reinstatement — he learned he was back in the squad on the team bus — caused 'a lot of outside noise' and visible nerves among teammates practicing without him.
- Batson defended Trump's involvement, saying 'The president is able to do what the president wants to do,' and reframed public outrage over refereeing decisions as proof that soccer 'cuts through' in U.S. culture in ways it never has before.
Why it matters: Pochettino's retention keeps continuity as U.S. Soccer maps its next four-year cycle toward the 2028 LA Olympics and 2030 World Cup, despite a fourth straight round-of-16 exit. Batson's public embrace of Trump's FIFA intervention — and his framing of fan complaints as cultural growth — comes as the federation still operates without a sporting director following Crocker's April departure.
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