It has been a busy time for U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is not only preparing his side for a World Cup on home soil but also meeting with Italy’s AC Milan about their vacant coaching position, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pochettino has been front and center this week after the USMNT named its 26-man World Cup roster at a ceremony in New York on Tuesday.
The squad is set to play in friendlies against Senegal at Charlotte on Sunday and against Germany at Chicago on June 6 in advance of its World Cup opener June 12 against Paraguay in the Los Angeles area.
Pochettino, 54, is under contract with the USMNT through the end of the team’s World Cup run.
Pochettino has been a head coach at some top clubs around the world, including Espanyol in Spain, Tottenham, Southampton and Chelsea in England, and Pairs Saint-Germain in France. He became USMNT head coach in September of 2024.
Pochettino has reportedly declined multiple overtures since moving to the United States, including interest from Brentford and a potential return to Tottenham.
A move to AC Milan potentially would keep Pochettino with USMNT star forward Christian Pulisic, who has been with the club since 2023 and has scored 31 goals in 100 appearances. Pulisic is under contract there through June of 2027, although AC Milan is currently undergoing massive changes after firing head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare and CEO Giorgio Furlani.
Pochettino, a native of Argentina, played in his home country and Europe from 1989-2006, with Newell’s Old Boys (Argentina), Espanyol (Spain), Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux (France). A center-back, he played in 20 games with Argentina’s national team from 1999-2002.
–Field Level Media
