Mauricio Pochettino leaves door open for Tottenham return after World Cup
USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has refused to rule out a return to Tottenham Hotspur after his contract expires following the 2026 World Cup.
The former Spurs boss is currently preparing to lead the United States on home soil at the tournament this summer.
However, the 53-year-old has admitted he remains "open to everything" regarding his managerial future beyond the international campaign.
Speculation over north London return
Tottenham are currently searching for a permanent successor to Thomas Frank, who was sacked earlier this month.
Pochettino acknowledged that his history with the club often leads to speculation when the team is underperforming.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said:
"I’m always linked to Tottenham, just like at one time I was linked to Espanyol, or to other clubs."
"In the end, especially because of my past at those clubs, when things aren’t going well, people tend to fall back on emotions and say, ‘Well, with Mauricio we played good football,’ or whatever it may be."
Despite the rumours, the Argentine tactician insisted his immediate focus remains on the national team job.
"But no. We’re focused on the World Cup, on the United States. My contract runs until after the World Cup, so after that we’ll see what might happen. Open to everything, right?"
Stability needed at Spurs
The Premier League side have appointed Igor Tudor on an interim basis until the end of the season.
His immediate priority is steering the club away from a relegation battle after a run of just two wins in 17 league games.
The Lilywhites sit just four points above the bottom three following a recent defeat by rivals Arsenal in the north London derby.
Since Pochettino was dismissed in 2019, shortly after reaching the Champions League final, the club has struggled to find a long-term replacement.
Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte, Ange Postecoglou and Frank have all held the permanent position in the intervening years.