Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be named the new coach of the United States men’s national team, as confirmed by sources familiar with the matter to FOX Sports on Thursday. This announcement marks a significant moment for U.S. Soccer as they seek to elevate their standing in international football.
Reports from several media outlets in England indicated late Wednesday and early Thursday that the Argentine coach has agreed to take on the U.S. role. While a contract has not yet been signed, and the U.S. Soccer Federation’s board of directors has not formally approved the deal, insiders believe these steps are merely procedural.
Recognized as one of the premier coaches in football, Pochettino stands out as the best manager available after former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp declined an approach from U.S. Soccer. His appointment would be a remarkable achievement for the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), and his bilingual skills in English and Spanish will help him connect with players and fans alike.
With the 2026 World Cup set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, USSF sporting director Matt Crocker has prioritized securing a high-caliber coach. He has already seen success on the women’s side, as former Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes recently led the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) to their fifth Olympic gold medal in her short tenure.
Crocker and Pochettino share a professional history, having collaborated at Southampton, where Crocker managed the youth academy. Pochettino’s leadership took Southampton to an impressive eighth-place finish in the Premier League during his only season before a successful five-year stint at Tottenham Hotspur, where he achieved the club’s highest points in the league and reached the Champions League final in 2019.
Following his time at Spurs, Pochettino won the French Cup and Ligue 1 during his two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) before returning to London to coach Chelsea. He managed to elevate the Blues from a 12th place finish to sixth in the Premier League before departing after the 2023-24 season, leaving many surprised.
Pochettino’s coaching journey began with Espanyol in 2009. As a player, he represented Argentina with 20 caps and participated in the 2002 World Cup. He has connections to American soccer, having coached current USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, as well as former U.S. World Cup players Brad Friedel and DeAndre Yedlin during his tenure at Tottenham.
The USSF initially approached several prominent coaches, including Klopp, former England manager Gareth Southgate, and Hoffenheim’s Pellegrino Matarazzo, the only American head coach in one of Europe’s top leagues. Pochettino, having been one of the highest-paid coaches at Chelsea and PSG, is poised to become the best-compensated national team coach globally upon his official signing with the U.S., surpassing Hayes’ earnings on the women’s side.
The upcoming match for the USMNT is a friendly against Canada on September 7 in Kansas City, a game that will serve as an early test for Pochettino’s potential future role.
