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US Soccer went and hired one of the most recognizable names in global football to lead its men’s national team into a home World Cup. Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine manager who previously ran the sidelines at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, took the job in September 2024 with a single mandate: win a knockout-round match for the first time since 2002.
His price tag reflects the ambition. Pochettino’s base annualized salary sits at approximately $6.04 million, making him the highest-paid coach in the history of the US Men’s National Team.
The record so far
Through May 2026, Pochettino has compiled a record of 13 wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses. The real test arrives this summer when the US hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The last time the USMNT advanced past the group stage and won a knockout match was in 2002, when the squad shocked Mexico in the Round of 16 before falling to Germany.
Pochettino’s initial contract runs through the end of the 2026 tournament. The US Soccer Federation has reportedly proposed an extension that would keep him through the 2030 World Cup, though a final decision on that front is expected to wait until after the home tournament wraps up.
At Tottenham, Pochettino took a club with modest spending to a Champions League final in 2019. He later managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
Crypto sponsors are paying attention
Kraken, the major US-based crypto exchange, along with fan engagement platform Chiliz and blockchain network Algorand, are all increasing their involvement with the program ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Chiliz operates the Socios fan token platform, with a model that revolves around creating fan tokens that give holders voting rights on minor club decisions and access to exclusive content.
Algorand previously served as FIFA’s official blockchain partner, a deal announced in 2022. Its continued presence in the US Soccer ecosystem suggests the relationship has legs beyond a single tournament cycle.
What this means for crypto investors
Market analysts have found no direct impact on any crypto assets tied to this news cycle. Sports sponsorship deals are brand-building exercises, not catalysts for token price action.
What’s worth watching is whether these partnerships evolve beyond logo placement into actual product integration. If Kraken uses the World Cup to onboard new users through promotional campaigns, or if Chiliz launches USMNT fan tokens that generate meaningful trading volume, that’s a different conversation. Until then, this remains a story about sports marketing budgets, not crypto fundamentals.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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