Daily Sports Minute

Mauricio Pochettino signs new deal to remain as USMNT manager

Today, Mauricio Pochettino signed a deal to continue as the manager of the U.S. men's national soccer team. Also remaining with the U.S. soccer team will include assistant coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel D'Agostino and Toni Jiménez, along with recent additions of Sebastian Pochettino and Silvia Tuyà, will remain on Pochettino's staff. Pochettino's new deal runs through at least the 2030 World Cup.

Pochettino, 54, was hired by U.S. Soccer in September 2024 following the USMNT's disastrous group stage exit at the 2024 Copa America. While the Argentine nationalist endured some inconsistent results during his tenure, he led the U.S. to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Then the U.S. got squashed by Belgium 4-1. This defeat to Belgium was a huge disappoint to the Americans.

USA's elimination followed a group stage that saw the Americans at the top of Group D with wins over Paraguay and Australia. Then the USMNT defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32. Pochettino's record with the U.S. is now 17 wins, 12 losses, and two ties.

The Argentine native was expected to depart USMNT when his contract expired at the end of the World Cup.

Cubs land playoff vet Kevin Gausman in trade with Blue Jays

The Chicago Cubs acquired right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays for Triple-A outfielder Brett Bateman and Class-A infielder Ty Southisene last Sunday night. Gausman, 35, gives the Cubs a playoff-caliber starter at the end of the trade deadline.

Gausman currently has a 5-10 record with a 4.38 ERA and 127 strikeouts this season. He's in the last year of a five-year, $110 million deal. Gausman has struggled as of recent with a 6.47 ERA over his past eight starts.

The Cubs and Blue Jays play a makeup game at Wrigley Field on Thursday. This could be Gausman's first start with Chicago. Gausman joins Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga as key pitchers in the Cubs' rotation. Left-Handed pitcher David Peterson has also pitched well since arriving from the Mets in a trade. The Cubs trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 6½ games.

Pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney going back where he started with Texans

Jadeveon Clowney is returning to the Houston Texans, the team that selected him No. 1 in the 2014 NFL draft. The Texans' defense got better with the aquisition of Clowney joining two of the top pass rushers in the NFL with Will Anderson Jr. (12) and Danielle Hunter (15), who combined for 27 sacks last season and each earned All-Pro spots (Anderson first team and Hunter second team). Last season, Clowney led the Dallas Cowboys with 8.5 sacks, including three in the season finale against the New York Giants.

During Clowney's five seasons with the Texans, he was a three-time Pro Bowler and earned a second-team All-Pro squad. The Texans placed the franchise tag on Clowney in 2019, and he was eventually was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Since Clowney's Houston time, he has played for the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and Cowboys.

Last year, in 13 games, Clowney finished with 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 33 pressures, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and four pass deflections. Clowney came to the Cowboys on a one-year, $3.5 million dollar deal after Dallas traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. In his career, Clowney was 66.5 sacks.