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In his first seven months as the head coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team, Mauricio Pochettino received over $5 million in compensation, according to tax documents released Thursday by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Pochettino, who took over from Gregg Berhalter in September 2024, earned $5,016,917 during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. This substantial sum included a base salary of $2,516,917 and a $2.5 million signing bonus, highlighting the federation’s significant financial commitment to securing the high-profile coach.
The federation’s tax filing also revealed details about Berhalter’s compensation following his dismissal. After being fired in July 2024 in the wake of the U.S. team’s disappointing first-round exit from the Copa America tournament, Berhalter received $1,774,981 during the fiscal year. This amount comprised $699,148 in salary, a $325,000 bonus, and a $750,833 severance package.
On the women’s side, Emma Hayes earned $1,469,557 in her role as head coach of the U.S. women’s national team. Hayes’ compensation included $744,557 in base salary, a $700,000 bonus, and $25,000 in other compensation. Hayes took over a team that would go on to capture its fifth Olympic gold medal during the fiscal period.
The financial disclosures provide a rare window into the compensation structure of U.S. Soccer’s leadership team. CEO JT Batson earned $898,787, with $658,787 in salary and a $240,000 bonus. Matt Crocker, who serves as the organization’s sporting director, received $990,792, which included a $152,905 relocation payment in addition to his $658,787 salary and $179,100 bonus.
The federation’s commitment to the women’s program was reflected in both coaching and player compensation. Twila Kilgore, who served as interim head coach of the women’s team between Vlatko Andonovski’s resignation in August 2023 and Hayes’ arrival in May 2024, earned $435,209. This included $136,042 in salary, a substantial $235,000 bonus, and a $64,167 severance payment when she departed in September 2024.
Several standout players from the gold medal-winning women’s team ranked among the federation’s highest-paid employees. Emily Sonnett, Emily Fox, and Naomi Girma each received $852,112 in salary plus a $36,000 bonus. Midfielder Lindsey Horan earned $849,461 in salary with the same bonus amount, while goalkeeper Casey Murphy received $822,032 in salary plus the $36,000 bonus.
The tax documents also revealed significant organizational expenditures. The federation paid $2,881,792 to Soccer United Marketing, an affiliate of Major League Soccer, for sponsorship agreements, and $13,395,175 to the law firm Latham & Watkins. Additional notable payments included $2,125,209 to the Brazilian soccer federation for international event coordination and $2,095,000 each to Wasserman Media Group for marketing services and to the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association for partnership activities.
Overall, the U.S. Soccer Federation reported revenue of $268.05 million for the fiscal year, representing a substantial increase from the $196.8 million recorded in the previous fiscal period. Expenses also grew significantly, rising to $260.1 million from $190.9 million the year before.
This financial transparency comes during a period of transition and high expectations for both national teams. While the women’s program continues its tradition of excellence with another Olympic triumph, the men’s program is banking on Pochettino’s leadership to elevate the team’s international standing, particularly with the United States co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
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9 Comments
Pochettino’s signing bonus of $2.5 million is particularly eye-catching. That’s a huge amount upfront, even for a high-profile hire. I wonder what kind of performance targets or expectations are tied to that bonus.
Wow, $5 million for a soccer coach’s first 7 months! That’s a huge sum, even for a high-profile role like the US national team. I wonder how Pochettino’s compensation compares to other top international coaches.
It’s good to see the US federation investing heavily in both the men’s and women’s national team programs. Competitive coaching salaries are important to attract and retain top talent.
The US women’s national team has seen a lot of success recently, so it’s not surprising to see their coach Emma Hayes earn a considerable salary. $1.4 million is a significant investment in the women’s program.
This highlights the lucrative nature of top-level international soccer coaching contracts. With so much at stake, federations are willing to pay hefty sums to secure the right talent to lead their national teams.
The severance package for Berhalter is an interesting data point. It suggests the US federation is willing to spend big to make coaching changes when results don’t meet expectations.
I’m curious to know how Pochettino’s compensation compares to other recent US men’s national team coaches. Was this a market-rate deal or did the federation go above and beyond to lure him?
Interesting to see the severance package details for former coach Berhalter after his dismissal. It’s common for big contracts to have substantial payouts, but $750k is still a hefty sum.
$1.4 million for the women’s national team coach is a strong signal of the federation’s commitment to the women’s game. It will be interesting to see if this level of investment continues in the years ahead.