The football world took notice when Mauricio Pochettino was named head coach of U.S. Soccer’s men’s national team in September 2024. Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham Hotspur are just a few of the teams on his resume; the federation was also willing to pay for him. Pochettino is by far the highest-paid coach in U.S. soccer history, with an annualized base salary of roughly $6 million, according to U.S. Soccer’s tax filings.
To put that in perspective, Gregg Berhalter, his predecessor, made about $1.6 million a year. The contract with Pochettino is almost four times that. It’s a figure that caused controversy on social media, raised eyebrows, and subtly hinted at something the federation had been hesitant to publicly acknowledge for years: creating a legitimate World Cup contender is expensive.
The tax records provide an intriguing narrative. Pochettino earned slightly more than $5 million in his first seven months of employment, which ended on March 31, 2025. This included a $2.5 million signing bonus in addition to a base salary of $2.52 million. The base alone is more than $4 million when prorated over a full year. The entire package is said to be between $5 million and $6 million a year when performance bonuses and incentives are taken into account. The terms of his contract are likely influenced by the fact that the United States is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
The arrangement’s most peculiar aspect is probably who is paying for it. The fact that outside donations enabled Pochettino’s appointment was openly disclosed by U.S. Soccer. A well-known advocate for American soccer initiatives, hedge fund manager Ken Griffin gave what the federation referred to as a “philanthropic leadership gift.” A number of business partners and Diameter Capital co-founder Scott Goodwin also made contributions.
Cindy Parlow Cone, president of U.S. Soccer, made it clear that the deal would not have been possible without the donor support. A national team coach whose salary is partially funded by private billionaires is an uncommon arrangement. However, it didn’t seem to bother many people. “Why complain if a couple of bored billionaires want to spend the equivalent of pocket change on a world-class manager?” asked a Reddit user.
To put things in perspective, Pochettino reportedly made about $12 million a year at Chelsea. His willingness to accept $6 million for the USMNT position indicates that he was more interested in the position than the salary. The depth of young American talent, the potential for soccer to grow in the nation, and the 2026 World Cup on American soil were his reasons for accepting the role. A coach who turned down a higher salary to work on a project he truly believes in is compelling.
Although they may have been unfairly scrutinized, the results during his tenure have been mixed. In the 2026 World Cup group stage, the USMNT broke national records for the most victories and goals scored in a single tournament, demonstrating true tactical structure and purpose. The run ended with a loss to Belgium in the knockout stages, but many people, not just American supporters, were genuinely impressed by the football on display. In a more general sense, Pochettino’s strategies were starting to gain traction.
It’s unclear if he will stay after the World Cup. According to reports, U.S. Soccer has looked into extending the contract through 2030. The federation obviously thinks the investment is warranted at $6 million annually. It’s difficult to claim they’re completely incorrect in light of what they witnessed on the field.
