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Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
The United States men's national team has secured its head man for the next cycle, as Mauricio Pochettino has re-signed with U.S. Soccer through the next four years, with the contract running to the end of the 2030 World Cup.
The USMNT crashed out of the 2026 tournament on home soil in the Round of 16, enjoying a record-setting tournament all the way until they were thumped 4-1 by Belgium.
Pochettino's return brings plenty of questions, many surrounding the manner of their exit from the 2026 FIFA tournament, but also comes with the benefits of continuity.
The Sporting News brings you a look at which players could benefit from Pochettino's return, and which ones will look ahead to the next four years with trepidation.
MORE: Why re-signing Pochettino was a slam dunk for U.S. Soccer despite World Cup defeat
Winners from Mauricio Pochettino USMNT return
Diego Luna
The 22-year-old Real Salt Lake winger may have missed out on a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the last moment, but there's no denying that Diego Luna's increased USMNT profile has come explicitly at the behest of Pochettino, and the Argentine's return for the next four years gives Luna a great chance to prove he can be an asset to the national team moving forward.
So far this season, Luna has four goals and one assist through the club's first 12 matches, but he has not scored since May 9, so he will need to get back on his horse if he is to be involved this fall and potentially into next summer's Gold Cup.
MORE: What we know about Mauricio Pochettino's contract and salary in his new USMNT deal
Gio Reyna
Despite hardly featuring for his club in each of the last two seasons, 23-year-old Gio Reyna was given a spot on the USMNT's World Cup roster this past summer, to the surprise of some.
Now, ahead of a reported switch to French side Strasbourg, Reyna will have an inside track to more national-team minutes over the next four years with Pochettino still in charge. The two have a good relationship, and Poch believes in what Reyna can bring the team regardless of what happens at the club level.
While Reyna will still do himself many favors by turning his club career around, Pochettino has made it clear that the midfielder's domestic performances are no longer paramount to his national-team standing, where a new coach may have placed greater importance on such things.
Noahkai Banks
The 19-year-old defender still has not yet made up his mind whether to represent Germany or the United States on the international level, but there is reason to be excited about his USMNT prospects should he choose to play for his country of birth.
Noahkai Banks, who has been included in FC Augsburg first-team training and looks set to be a key part of the team's setup this season, has been thought of as an important part of the team's defensive future, if they can only convince him to sign up. Relationships between the coaching staff and player are massively important in this recruiting process, and therefore continuity on the staff from last World Cup cycle to this one will be huge, especially considering Germany have changed coaches after a disappointing World Cup of their own.
Center-back has been a position of significant weakness in recent years for the U.S. and so getting Banks to commit his future to the national team will be of the utmost importance.
MORE: Five things for new Germany coach Jurgen Klopp to fix
Alex Freeman
There may not be a single bigger winner from Pochettino's time in charge so far than Alex Freeman, who was essentially discovered by the Argentine, installed into the national setup, and blossomed into one of the USMNT's best performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After a winter move to Spanish side Villarreal, Freeman's strong showing at the tournament has given him a platform by which to launch himself into a successful European career, having earned just three starts since joining the La Liga club last winter.
Given how well he has taken to his national-team role, Freeman would be in the mix regardless who U.S. Soccer brought in to coach the team the next four years, but this is best-case-scenario for the 21-year-old, considering he fits the tactical setup that Pochettino has established extremely well.
Losers from Mauricio Pochettino USMNT return
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Despite the center-back difficulties within the USMNT squad, Pochettino has repeatedly left Cameron Carter-Vickers out of the roster throughout his two years in charge.
The 28-year-old was not an option at the World Cup thanks to an Achilles injury, but even before that it seemed clear he was not favored by the head coach. For Carter-Vickers, now 28 and contracted to Celtic through 2029, it's hard to see his situation changing. If he can't get into the national team under Pochettino after a strong 2024/25 season where Celtic surprised in the Champions League, he's cooked with Pochettino staying in charge.
Tanner Tessmann
Tanner Tessmann was the most shocking omission from the USMNT's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, as Pochettino made the shocking decision to leave out one of the player pool's most talented midfield options.
After making his USMNT debut late in Gregg Berhalter's tenure, the 24-year-old had risen to prominence under Pochettino appearing in each of the team's six international friendlies leading up to the World Cup summer international window, while starting four.
However, it all came to a screeching halt, and now it's unclear whether Tessmann will be in Pochettino's long-term plans or if he will be cast aside for other options. The midfield is quite thin right now behind the regular starters, so there's still a clear way back for the Lyon man, especially at his age, but he has work to do to re-establish his position in the team.
Ricardo Pepi
Ricardo Pepi has spent the last three years doing nothing but slamming in goals for Dutch club PSV.
Despite that, the 23-year-old has struggled for national-team standing under Pochettino, pipped by Folarin Balogun for the starting spot while often finding himself in a dogfight with the likes of Haji Wright, Patrick Agyemang, and Josh Sargent for a place on the depth chart.
After a Premier League move to Fulham fell through last winter, there have been no reports of any club reviving interest this summer, and he looks set to stay in the Netherlands another season. If the past few seasons were not enough to solidify his spot on the roster, the next four years could be a tough battle for Pepi, especially if young Damion Downs manages to turn his prospects around after a tough season and adds his name to the mix.
Kyle Bonn
Kyle Bonn is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.
Source: Sporting News
