Mauricio Pochettino officially committed to leading the U.S. Men’s National Team through the next World Cup, signing a new four-year deal to keep him at the helm after their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 run. Pretty straightforward, right? Not if USMNT legend and analyst Tim Howard has anything to say about it, because he thinks that contract is anything but a done deal.
Pochettino’s Own Words Left The Door Open
Pochettino, who’s been with the Stars and Stripes since Fall 2024, was expected to jump back into club management, especially after his time with giants like Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain. Instead, he signed on for another four years, committing through the next World Cup in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. But listen to what Pochettino said himself in a recent press conference, and you start to get why Howard is raising eyebrows.
Pochettino stated, “Now it’s a four-year contract, it’s different. We can next season lose the Copa América, or the Gold Cup, and they’re not happy with us, they can sack us. Or we can say, ‘OK, it’s not the way that we think.’ Four years is different. Maybe now if someone calls in the future, it’s a different type (of situation). We are excited, we are thinking to spend four years, to the next World Cup. But now it’s a long period.” He actually called four years a “long period!” C’mon, man.
Tim Howard Drops The Truth On ‘Unfiltered Soccer’
Howard absolutely tore into Pochettino’s “non-committal tone” on his ‘Unfiltered Soccer’ podcast with Landon Donovan. He didn’t hold back, calling Pochettino a “brilliant manager” and “globally respected” who has worked with the “best players in the world.” Howard’s take? Every single “top-10 job” that opens up before the 2030 World Cup will have Pochettino on the shortlist. Without a doubt.
Howard went on to explain that while Pochettino might turn down the first $30 million offer, or even a second or third $40 million one, eventually “somebody is going to be desperate enough” to hit him with a $50 million offer to coach a Champions League or world football contender. And remember Pochettino’s comments about losing competitions like the Copa América or Nations League? Howard says he “literally left the door open.” Anyone who thinks that contract deadbolted the door and put a chain on it just isn’t paying attention.
So yeah, a contract is signed, but it sounds like the ink barely dried before the conversation shifted. USMNT fans better brace themselves for a wild ride because if Tim Howard is right, Pochettino is already halfway out the door, and those future Copa América or Gold Cup results might decide everything way sooner than 2030.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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