Mauricio Pochettino has been hired as head coach of the USA men’s national team.
The former Tottenham and Chelsea boss – who left the Blues by mutual consent at the end of last season – will guide USA into their home World Cup in 2026, when the event will be staged across the States, Canada and Mexico.
This will be the first international role for Pochettino, 52, who has also managed Espanyol, Southampton and Paris Saint-Germain during his 15-year, distinguished coaching career
Pochettino replaces Gregg Berhalter, who was dismissed after USA failed to qualify from their group at this summer’s Copa America.
The choice to join U.S. Soccer wasn’t only about football for me; it’s about the path that this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said.
Introducing… #USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino 🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) September 10, 2024
“The enthusiasm, the passion, and the ambition to do something genuinely monumental here – those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the U.S. Men’s National Team, in front of fans who are equally as passionate as the players, is something I couldn’t pass up.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”
Pochettino’s first game in command of the USA will be a home friendly against Panama in Austin, Texas on October 12, before playing an away friendly in Mexico three days later.
Analysis: Why Pochettino has taken the USA job
By Sky Sports Reporter, Paul Gilmour (@skysportspaulg)
Many people raised their eyebrows when Mauricio Pochettino decided to follow spells at Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea with the USA job but it’s an opportunity he is incredibly excited about. So, what are the reasons behind the decision?
One of the major factors is the fact the United States will jointly host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 along with Mexico and Canada. He has always maintained he’d love to experience international management and spent the Qatar World Cup loving it as a pundit. This time he’ll be right at the heart of the most prestigious tournament in world football as a manager in a host country.
In America he has immediately felt the love from US Soccer, helped by the fact he’s working closely with sporting director Matt Crocker. Crocker was the director of football operations at Southampton during the Argentine’s time there, and the pair get on well.
USA Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker worked with Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton
Image: USA Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker worked with Pochettino at Southampton
Crocker, who is also a former head of development teams at the FA, oversees the entire sporting department including the women’s team. He was described by US Soccer as “a great communicator” and “team builder”. These elements appealed to Pochettino since he prefers to construct teams without fuss or drama. He appreciated the concept of bringing some happiness following recent negative events.
It’s a long cry from how things ended at PSG and Chelsea, where Pochettino felt undermined and discouraged by the number of obstacles placed in his path when he just wanted to get on with building the club. In Paris, he frequently had to accommodate players he had not planned for, which produced issues by making the team lopsided. PSG has recently taken a different approach.
The graphic depicts Pochettino’s record at Chelsea.
At Chelsea, he frequently appeared upset by the number of people engaged in decision-making, and he also had to deal with members of the ownership group who held opposing views on the club’s future direction.
There is no recruitment to worry about in international football, leaving him free to coach the team and focus solely on making an impression in the summer of 2026. US sporting facilities are of a high level, and they are anxious to show the world they can compete.
Chelsea’s head coach Mauricio Pochettino, left, reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium in London, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Image: Pochettino departed Chelsea by mutual consent at the end of last season
As Chelsea ended the season with a run of positive results Pochettino departed with his reputation enhanced by this, and while the initial plan may have been to wait for other jobs to become available – Real Madrid and Manchester United have previously shown interest and his name may have been in the discussion should a vacancy arise – the US offer forced an early decision weeks after leaving the west London club. In the end it was a no brainer and will be hailed as a coup for them.
The sporting department at US Soccer has already won Olympic gold under Emma Hayes, who has reached out to Pochettino to share insight on her early experiences working there. Hayes and Pochettinio have always spoken well of each other and spent a year overlapping at Chelsea, not to mention enjoying a more light-hearted approach to football together at Soccer Aid.
US Soccer believes it has put in place a strategy to make major development in both men’s and women’s soccer. Pochettino, who will be able to speak English or Spanish because to the vast Hispanic community in the United States, is re-energized and excited about a new task.
