Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed as the new head coach of the United States men’s national soccer team, as announced by the U.S. Soccer Federation on Tuesday. The 52-year-old signed a two-year contract that will extend through the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico. He replaces Gregg Berhalter, who was dismissed following a disappointing performance at this summer’s Copa América.
Pochettino will be officially introduced at a press conference in New York on Friday. U.S. Soccer’s sporting director, Matt Crocker, expressed enthusiasm for Pochettino’s hire, emphasizing his history of player development and team-building success. “His track record speaks for itself,” Crocker stated, indicating confidence in Pochettino’s ability to leverage the potential of the current squad.
Reports indicate that Pochettino has agreed to take on the role after extensive discussions with Crocker, who previously collaborated with him at Southampton. The goal of recruiting a world-class coach is to enhance the USMNT’s competitiveness going into the 2026 World Cup.
Pochettino arrives with an impressive coaching resume, having managed top-tier clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. He has worked with some of soccer’s elite players, including Lionel Messi and Harry Kane, and previously coached at Espanyol.
In a statement, Pochettino expressed excitement about the opportunity, highlighting the collective ambition and passion he sees within the team and its supporters. He believes there is significant talent in the U.S. squad and aims to create something that the nation can take pride in.
Financially, Pochettino is set to earn $6 million annually, making him the highest-paid coach in USMNT history, despite it being a reduction from his previous Chelsea salary. The USSF’s announcement also noted that Pochettino’s appointment was bolstered by a generous donation from Kenneth C. Griffin, among other supporters.
The hiring process had taken weeks, complicated by ongoing discussions with Chelsea regarding Pochettino’s compensation. Initial attempts to attract other high-profile candidates, like Jürgen Klopp, were unsuccessful, leading the federation to concentrate on Pochettino.
Pochettino is expected to bring along his longtime assistant coaches and will oversee his first match with the team on October 12 against Panama in Austin, Texas, followed by a clash with Mexico in Guadalajara shortly after.
Currently, the USMNT is facing challenges, having struggled recently after a promising World Cup performance in 2022. The team’s recent Copa América campaign saw them fail to advance past the group stage, exacerbating concerns following a 5-1 loss to Colombia in a pre-tournament friendly.
Pochettino will be working with a roster that includes notable players such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. However, time is limited with only eight international windows left before the 2026 World Cup, including the upcoming Gold Cup in 2025.
Originally from Murphy, Argentina, Pochettino had a brief international playing career and began his professional journey at Newell’s Old Boys before playing for clubs like Espanyol and Bordeaux, accumulating over 500 appearances in total.