Italian power AC Milan has interest in U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino, creating a potential distraction for the host team.
Read more Kuszak hits walk-off homer in 10th, Frahm goes distance as Nebraska holds off Arkansas 5-3 at WCWS
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Barely two weeks before the U.S. men’s national team opens perhaps the most anticipated tournament in program history, the Americans have their first potential pre-World Cup distraction.
As the team gathered in Georgia this week for its final training sessions ahead of the World Cup, news broke Thursday morning that U.S. Coach Mauricio Pochettino had met with representatives from Italian power AC Milan about its vacant coaching position. The report, first published by the Athletic, landed not long before the Americans took the field at the newly opened Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center outside Atlanta.
U.S. Soccer chief executive JT Batson said Thursday that Pochettino and his staff have been transparent with the federation about interest from other clubs. He insisted the report had not become a distraction for the national team as it prepares for its June 12 opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
“I’m confident that Mauricio and team are 100 percent focused on this summer,” Batson said. “They’re excited. They were among the first people here this morning. They were the last to leave last night. They couldn’t be more excited about being here in our new home.”
Pochettino, 54, is under contract with U.S. Soccer through this summer’s World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada. The Athletic reported that he met with Milan representatives last week, before the U.S. roster was announced and the American squad reported to camp in Georgia.
Asked Thursday whether the situation was a distraction, Batson answered simply: “No.”
The timing, though, is less than ideal for the Americans, who are carrying unusually high expectations into a home World Cup and have already faced scrutiny this week over Pochettino’s roster decisions and his handling of players who were left off the team.
Tim Weah, the U.S. team’s 26-year-old winger, said players support Pochettino and they’ll be able to focus on their tournament prep.
“I’m someone that lives in present day, and right now he’s here and we’re working with him,” Weah said. “So it’s an amazing feeling having such a prestigious coach coaching us.”
Read more Burton’s 25 sparks Valkyries’ 90-88 win over Fever
Pochettino’s arrival in September 2024 was viewed as a major coup for U.S. Soccer, which turned to one of the sport’s most accomplished and expensive club coaches after firing Gregg Berhalter following the Americans’ disappointing group-stage exit at the 2024 Copa América.
Pochettino is reportedly earning $6 million annually, a salary package that required significant outside fundraising. U.S. Soccer said at the time of his hiring that it was supported in part by a philanthropic gift from billionaire hedge fund founder Kenneth C. Griffin, with additional support from financial executive Scott Goodwin and several commercial partners.
That backdrop has made Pochettino’s future an ongoing point of intrigue, even before Thursday’s report. Batson did not directly say whether Pochettino had informed the federation in advance about a specific meeting with Milan. But Pochettino and his staff have been open with U.S. Soccer about outside interest dating back to the federation’s initial recruitment of the Argentine coach, Batson said.
“Even when we first met, a couple summers ago, there are lots of other people interested in having Mauricio and team join,” Batson said. “He had standing offers from other places to come, and he wanted to be here. He’s a big believer in what we’re doing in U.S. Soccer. He’s a big believer in soccer in America, and he’s a big believer in this men’s team.”
AC Milan is searching for a new coach after parting ways with Massimiliano Allegri earlier this week as part of a sweeping leadership shake-up. A move to Milan would represent a return to club soccer for Pochettino, whose previous stops have included Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. It also would reunite him at the club level with Christian Pulisic, the U.S. team’s top attacking player, who has starred for Milan.
Pochettino has said previously that he would be open to remaining with the U.S. team beyond the World Cup. Batson said Thursday that the federation has discussed that possibility with Pochettino and his staff while also planning for other contingencies.
“We’ve had a number of very long discussions around what the next four years could look like,” Batson said. “We’re excited, and they’re excited. Of course, we got to focus on the summer, which we’re doing.”
Batson said those conversations have not pulled attention away from the immediate task. He said Pochettino and his staff spent Wednesday night at the training center discussing the federation’s long-term plans, including the Olympics, youth national teams and coaching education.
“A lot of what Mauricio’s talked about with our entire staff earlier today is around how we turn this house into our home,” Batson said. “They’re huge believers in that. They know the impact that had at Argentina. They’ve obviously seen the impact that’s had in other organizations they’ve been a part of.”
Read more Burton, Williams lead the way as Valkyries hold off Clark, Fever in 90-88 win
