CINCINNATI — U.S. Soccer officially names Mauricio Pochettino as the new head coach of the United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT).
After weeks of speculation and reports from various European media outlets, the U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed the hiring of the esteemed 52-year-old Argentine coach on Tuesday. Pochettino, who has previously managed top clubs like Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham Hotspur, is set to succeed Gregg Berhalter in this pivotal role.
In a press release, Pochettino expressed his enthusiasm for the position, stating, “The decision to join U.S. Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on. The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic 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 just 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 is scheduled to travel to New York City on Thursday, where he will be formally introduced during a press conference in Manhattan on Friday morning.
This marks the second significant appointment made by Matt Crocker, U.S. Soccer’s sporting director, within the past 10 months. Last November, Emma Hayes transitioned from Chelsea Women to lead the U.S. women’s national team, where she quickly made an impact by guiding the squad to its fifth Olympic gold medal, defeating Brazil in the final at the Paris Games.
Crocker praised Pochettino, saying, “Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams. His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we pursue success on the global stage.”
While U.S. Soccer reached an agreement with Pochettino last month, the announcement was delayed until he was officially released from his contract with Chelsea, which was set to expire this summer. The details of the contract were finalized just hours before the USMNT faced New Zealand in a friendly match.
Although financial specifics remain undisclosed, Pochettino was among the highest-paid coaches globally during his tenures at Chelsea and PSG. U.S. Soccer indicated that his hiring was “supported in significant part by a philanthropic leadership gift” from billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin, along with additional backing from hedge fund manager Scott Goodwin.
With this appointment, Pochettino becomes the second non-American to coach the U.S. men’s team since 1990. Bora Milutinović, a Serbian, led the team to the second round of the 1994 World Cup, the last time the tournament was held in the United States. Jürgen Klinsmann from Germany also guided the USMNT to the knockout stage in 2014 but was dismissed after a poor start in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, which resulted in the U.S. missing the tournament for the first time in over three decades.
Gregg Berhalter, who was appointed in 2018, successfully led the U.S. to Qatar 2022, where they remained unbeaten in group play with a victory over Iran and draws against Wales and England, a top title contender. However, the team was eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16. Berhalter signed a contract extension through 2026 but was let go in July after the U.S. made history as the first Copa America host not to advance to the knockout stages.
Pochettino’s most recent managerial role was at Chelsea, where he improved the team from 12th to 6th place in the English Premier League during the 2023-24 season, his only year in charge. He previously clinched Ligue 1 and French Cup titles during his 18-month tenure at PSG and established himself as a leading figure in global soccer while at Tottenham Hotspur, where he achieved the club’s highest Premier League finish and points total in 2018 and reached the UEFA Champions League final a year later.
Pochettino’s debut match with the USMNT is scheduled for October 12, when the team will face Panama in a friendly in Austin, Texas.
