Mauricio Pochettino is on track to become the new head coach of the United States men’s national soccer team, according to sources familiar with the developments. Reports from various media outlets in England indicate that the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager has come to an agreement for the role, though a formal contract had not been signed as of Thursday morning. The U.S. Soccer Federation’s board of directors still needs to approve the deal, but these steps are anticipated to be mere formalities.
Pochettino is poised to succeed Gregg Berhalter, who led the team to the 2022 World Cup second round but was dismissed in July following the U.S. team’s early exit from the Copa América. Pochettino’s team first engaged in talks with U.S. Soccer’s sporting director Matt Crocker in Europe in mid-July.
Widely regarded as one of the top coaches in global soccer, Pochettino is seen as a significant acquisition for U.S. Soccer, especially after Jürgen Klopp declined an initial approach. The 52-year-old, fluent in English and Spanish, is expected to become the prominent figure for the men’s program.
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, to be co-hosted in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Crocker aimed to secure an elite coach for the men’s team. His success in hiring former Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes, who recently led the U.S. women’s team to an Olympic gold medal, highlights his ability to attract top talent.
Crocker and Pochettino have previously worked together at Southampton, where Pochettino achieved notable success during his tenure. Following that, he enjoyed a successful spell at Tottenham Hotspur before winning the French Cup and Ligue 1 with PSG. Most recently, he managed Chelsea, improving the team’s league position significantly before his departure after the last campaign.
Pochettino’s coaching career began in 2009 with Espanyol, and he has previous connections to American soccer through players he coached at Tottenham, including current USMNT center back Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Pochettino was among several prominent coaches considered for the role, including Klopp, Gareth Southgate, and Pellegrino Matarazzo, a notable American coach in Europe. Once he officially joins the U.S. team, he will likely become the highest-paid national team coach in the world, surpassing the earnings of female counterparts like Hayes.
The USMNT’s next scheduled match is a friendly against Canada on September 7 in Kansas City.