Mauricio Pochettino’s future revealed as ex-Spurs manager tipped for Champions League return

Mauricio Pochettino still must prove himself to sports fans in the United States of America.

But one of the biggest questions of the 2026 World Cup is already buzzing before the first match is played: Where is Pochettino going once the biggest sports tournament in world history is complete?

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Pochettino has expiring World Cup contract

Staying on as the US Men’s National Team coach, returning to the Premier League and taking over an internationally famous European Champions League squad are all looming possibilities for a 54-year-old manager who’s previously led Chelsea, PSG, Tottenham and Southampton.

“The contract is up after the World Cup and the expectation for some time has been a parting of ways (with US Soccer),” football correspondent Ben Jacobs exclusively told talkSPORT.

“But the spanner in the works was Pochettino himself in the last international break, when he was asked about the contract. And he said, ‘Why not stay on?’ So if we take Pochettino at his word, there’ll be an appetite after the World Cup to review and maybe discuss a new deal. But sources are not necessarily within US soccer endorsing that position.

“He’s liked. But I think there’s been a feeling for quite some time that, if this World Cup goes amazingly, Poch bows out on a high. And if this World Cup doesn’t go according to plan, then he leaves at the end of the contract.

“So it is highly likely that Mauricio Pochettino leaves either way, whether with a mic-drop moment and a trophy in his hand or a semifinal or a quarterfinal or, alternatively, an underperformance and then, again, a natural parting of ways.”

USMNT’s struggles during recent friendlies vs Portugal and Belgium — Christian Pulisic and Co. lost both matches by a combined 7-2 — was a glimpse of the pressure that Pochettino will face in June, as an expanded World Cup bounces between Mexico, Canada and the USA.

He’s also continued to make his fondness known for the Premier League and tease ‘unfinished business.’

If Pochettino leaves USMNT after the World Cup, coaching Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Júnior and Jude Bellingham in Spain might be more practical than immediately leaping back into English football.

Europe could be easier than England for Poch

“Tottenham is off the table because Roberto De Zerbi got that job, but Mauricio Pochettino was the other candidate,” Jacobs said.

“Real Madrid is the wild card in all of this, and Mauricio Pochettino is a candidate there. 

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“Florentino Perez is pushing a return for Jose Mourinho, but there’s other people within Real Madrid that are not as sold on that. So either Perez is going to put his foot down and say, ‘I’m making the call and no other input is needed,’ or he’s going to listen to his leadership team. And then maybe there’ll be some opposition to Mourinho. And if Perez decides, ‘OK, I’m giving up on Mourinho,’ … suddenly Mauricio Pochettino comes into the fore as a potential candidate for Real Madrid.

“They like Jurgen Klopp, as well. Klopp keeps saying he’s not going to return to club management. So maybe there’s a window of opportunity for Pochettino there.”

Jacobs stressed that Pochettino is liked and respected by US Soccer.

“They could throw the kitchen sink at him after a successful tournament and say, ‘Let’s do more together,’ Jacobs said.

Change is coming for USMNT

But the stunning departure of Matt Crocker as US Soccer Sporting Director in April only reinforced the feeling that more change is coming, no matter how far Pochettino leads USMNT in a World Cup that will feature 104 matches and peak on July 19 with a final at Met Life Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

“Crocker was the one that brought Pochettino in,” Jacobs said.

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“He was the one that had that day-to-day working relationship. So there’s now a slightly new perspective — there’s an interim plan to kind of get America into the World Cup. But then the leadership within US Soccer will change over time and that might be a factor, as well.”

With the Spurs now in the hands of De Zerbi as they attempt to avoid relegation, Pochettino’s Premier League options this summer could be slimmer than initially imagined.

Blocked path back to Premier League

“Pochettino’s not a candidate for Manchester City, if Pep Guardiola leaves,” Jacobs said. “The expectation is that Enzo Maresca, another former Chelsea boss, is the favorite there. 

“Mikel Arteta is obviously doing wonderful things (at Arsenal) and is safe. 

“The Manchester United process has in the past looked at Pochettino. But I’m not aware that he’s a front runner for the role at this stage. 

“I don’t think he’d be in the mix for Liverpool if Arne Slot went. And, again, there’s backing for Arne Slot from the Liverpool board. 

“Interestingly, Unai Emery is also a candidate for Real Madrid. So was he to surprisingly choose to leave Aston Villa — even though they’re flying, as well — that could become a vacancy. But other than that, there’s not many Premier League clubs that I think would be of appeal to Pochettino.

“I think he’d look for a club that has Champions League football. If Eddie Howe was to leave Newcastle United, maybe a club with that fan base and still the ambition from PIF. But, generally speaking, there’s not just a Premier League vacancy.”

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Waiting for a new job to open in the 2026-27 Premier League season or taking a year off could be in play for Pochettino, if he leaves USMNT after its World Cup run.

But Jacobs mentioned another football wild card that would send shockwaves through England ahead of the home-soil 2028 Euros.

What happens if Tuchel disappoints with England?

“Very, very left field and I want to be clear in no way are we saying, ‘Yes, this is a possibility,’ ” Jacobs said.

“But if the England vacancy came up, who’s to say that Pochettino — now with international experience and wanting to return to England — wouldn’t have his head turned by that? And the same could be said for Pep Guardiola if he leaves Manchester City. 

“The reason why there’s no headline there yet is because Thomas Tuchel signed a new deal, so the FA are hoping the World Cup for England goes amazingly and then he stays on for a home Euros.” 

What is clear is that barely a month before the biggest World Cup in history, the head coach of USMNT already has a huge decision to make about his future.

“I think he’ll end back in a role in club football,” Jacobs said. 

“I’m not so sure after the World Cup, though, unless Real offer him the job, he’ll be in that much of a rush.”