US Soccer went shopping for a world-class coach and came home with Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine manager who previously led Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League final and managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. His mission: deliver the US Men’s National Team its first knockout-round victory at a World Cup since 2002.

Pochettino’s compensation package is estimated at roughly $6 million annually, which includes a $2.5 million signing bonus. That makes him the highest-paid coach in US Soccer history, a distinction that reflects just how seriously the federation is treating the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.

How the deal came together

Pochettino was appointed in September 2024, replacing Gregg Berhalter after a turbulent stretch for the national program. His first match in charge was a 2-0 friendly win over Panama on October 12, 2024.

By spring 2026, the USMNT had compiled a record of 13 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws under Pochettino.

The funding behind Pochettino’s salary is perhaps as interesting as the hire itself. Private donations have played a significant role, with hedge fund manager Ken Griffin of Citadel reportedly serving as a major financial backer.

US Soccer officially announced a contract extension for Pochettino in late June 2026, with discussions pointing to a proposed four-year deal that would keep him in charge through the 2030 World Cup.

Where crypto fits into the picture

Crypto exchange Kraken and fan token platform Chiliz have both been mentioned in connection with US Soccer sponsorship activities. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents perhaps the most commercially valuable tournament in FIFA history.

Fan tokens have been a fixture in European soccer for years, with clubs like FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain all launching tokens through the Chiliz-powered Socios platform.

Chiliz’s native token, CHZ, is the asset most directly exposed to this dynamic. Increased sponsorship deals and fan engagement initiatives tied to the World Cup could drive heightened trading activity for sports-related tokens.

What this means for investors

There have been no major token launches or protocol-level developments directly triggered by Pochettino’s appointment.

By early July 2026, the USMNT had advanced in the ongoing World Cup under Pochettino’s leadership, which is exactly the kind of result that could catalyze activity in sports-related tokens.

Sports tokens remain thinly traded and highly sentiment-driven. These are not assets with fundamental cash flows or protocol revenues to fall back on.

Pochettino’s $6 million annual salary is a rounding error compared to the commercial ecosystem being built around a home World Cup.