Mauricio Pochettino is poised to become the next head coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team. The Argentine coach has been without a role since leaving Chelsea in May, but there are certain issues complicated his appointment to the USMNT. These issues are largely centered on the nature of Pochettino’s severance package from Chelsea, where he departed a year into a two-year contract. Pochettino has given his verbal acceptance for the USMNT job, and there is nothing preventing him from doing so in his Chelsea contract.
Despite the termination of his contract at Chelsea, discussions between Pochettino and the club are ongoing to find a financial solution that makes him capable of accepting the USMNT role due to the generally lesser remuneration packages offered by national teams versus club teams. Possibilities under discussion include third-party sponsorships. Pochettino’s contract at Chelsea only prevents him from working with another top-six Premier League team for six months, and the relationship between Pochettino and the club remains strong.
Precise figures for Pochettino’s anticipated salary at USMNT have not been confirmed, but hiring such a high-profile coach will be a sizable expenditure. Pochettino has experience managing Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, and his salary would likely supersede that of previous USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter, whose 2022 base salary was $1,391,136 with bonuses of $900,000. Matt Crocker, USMNT sporting director, insists the replacement search is not restrained by financial concerns, and the goal is to find the best possible coach to help the team succeed.
Funding a manager of Pochettino’s stature will require a significantly larger budget than typically reserved for a national team head coach role. The USSF may have to devise creative strategies to meet the financial burden. There isn’t current interest among American MLS clubs to donate funds to USSF, a situation that contrasts with Canada’s arrangement for the appointment of Jesse Marsch, where the country’s three MLS clubs collectively contributed around $1.5 million to facilitate his appointment. Other financing routes could involve partnerships with sponsors—a tactic used when Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023.
The financial shortfall in securing Pochettino could potentially be covered by Chelsea paying the difference between USSF’s offer and what the club would owe Pochettino if he stayed unemployed. Such arrangements are not unusual in football. Hence, Chelsea would not have to pay the full amount due under the current severance agreement, and Pochettino would receive the full amount he’s owed. Chelsea, who is currently seeking a front-of-shirt sponsor for the new Premier League season, is trying to facilitate such arrangements.
The expectation is that an agreement beneficial to all parties will eventually be reached. The USSF aims to finalize the deal within the next 48 hours, with formal ratification required at a board meeting. The next matches for the USMNT are on September 7 and 10 against Canada and New Zealand, respectively, providing a fast-approaching deadline for the resolution of this matter.
