After Mauricio Pochettino had successful stints yet chaotic exits in his last few seasons in club soccer, certain pundits think he landed the dream job of being the USMNT manager. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Pochettino has got a “plum job.” Nevertheless, the Argentine coach will walk on eggshells in the US camp. The US Soccer Federation has given only one mission to the former PSG and Chelsea boss. And that is to help the USMNT fare well in the US-hosted 2026 World Cup. And that, however, is a do-or-die mission for the 52-year-old boss.

During a recent interview, US Soccer CEO JT Batson said that he and Mauricio Pochettino discussed the latter’s future post in the 2026 tournament. Batson told Pochettino that his future with the US team depended on their performance at the upcoming home World Cup.

“I think you know to paraphrase Mauricio, ‘Hey look, if you know we’re not successful in 26, no one’s going to want him around. And so because it’s to his term that’s football,” said JT Batson during his September 17 interview on ESPN FC’s Futbol Americas podcast.

Anyhow, the USSF chief did confirm that both the Pochettino and the USSF are interested in having a long-term commitment. But Batson iterated that the 2026 WC is the first step for the Argentine boss to establish such a long-standing deal.

“So you know there’s certainly interest from both sides about a very long-term relationship but hey we got to be successful in 26 first,” Batson added. Meanwhile, the US Soccer CEO is also quite confident that no big European club could lure the Argentine coach during his two-year stay in the US camp.

Mauricio Pochettino won’t be distracted by huge offers till 2026, says USSF chief

Rumors have it that Mauricio Pochettino could entertain an exorbitant European offer to match his exit clause with Chelsea. This rumor gained significant traction since national teams seldom pay as lavishly as clubs. However, JT Batson strongly believes that Pochettino knows what he has signed up for in the US camp.

“One of the key reasons why we spent so much time together in Barcelona was making sure that he had a full understanding of what he was signing up for, and that we felt that he was absolutely in it to win it,” said Batson.

The USSF CEO added that Poch’s enthusiasm for the US job was evident in his introductory presser and speeches. Besides, the former Tottenham and Chelsea boss has also decided to take lessons from Emma Hayes’ USWNT success to kick-start the 2026 WC mission with the USMNT.

But only time will tell if the Argentine will last in the US camp to lead it to another major tournament.