Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed head coach of the US men’s national team.
The former Tottenham and Chelsea boss – who left the Blues by mutual consent at the end of last season – will lead the USA at their home World Cup in 2026, when the tournament will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This will be the first international role for the 52-year-old Pochettino, who has also managed Espanyol, Southampton and Paris Saint-Germain during his distinguished 15-year coaching career.
Pochettino replaces Gregg Berhalter, who was sacked after the USA failed to qualify from their group at this year’s Copa America.
“The decision to join US Soccer wasn’t just about soccer for me; it was about this team and the journey of this country,” Pochettino said.
“The energy, the passion and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – these are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the U.S. Men’s National Team in front of fans who are as passionate as the players is something I couldn’t pass up.”
“I see a group of players that are full of talent and potential, and together we are going to create something special that the whole country will be proud of.”
Pochettino’s first match for the USA will be a home friendly against Panama in Austin, Texas on October 12, followed by a friendly in Mexico three days later.
Analysis: Why did Pochettino take the USA job?
By Sky Sports reporter Paul Gilmour (@skysportspaulg)
Many were surprised when Mauricio Pochettino decided to take the USA job after stints at Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea, but it’s an opportunity he’s extremely excited about. So, what are the reasons behind this decision?
One of the key factors is the fact that the United States will jointly host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 with Mexico and Canada. He has always said he would love to experience international management and enjoyed it as a pundit at the Qatar World Cup. This time he will be at the centre of world football’s most prestigious tournament as a manager in a host country.
In the US, he instantly found love with US Soccer, thanks to his collaboration with sporting director Matt Crocker. Crocker was the Argentine’s director of football operations at Southampton, and the two get along well.
Croker, who is also the former head of development teams at the FA, oversees the entire sports department, including the women’s team. She was described by US Soccer as “a great communicator” and a “team builder”. These factors were appealing to Pochettino as he likes to develop teams without fuss or drama. He liked the idea of some positivity after recent negative experiences.
This is very different from the way things ended at PSG and Chelsea, when Pochettino at times felt undermined and frustrated by the obstacles in his way, when all he wanted to do was move on and make the team better. In Paris he often had to bring in players he had not planned for and this caused problems by unbalancing the team. PSG have since adopted a different approach.
Pochettino’s record at Chelsea
At Chelsea he often appeared frustrated by the number of people involved in the decision-making process, and had to deal with members of the ownership group who had conflicting views about the club’s future.
There are no recruiting concerns in international football, which gives him the freedom to focus solely on training the team and making an impact in the summer of 2026. American sports facilities are top-notch, and he is determined to show the world that he can compete.
Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent at the end of last season
Chelsea ended the season with a string of positive results, Pochettino enhanced his reputation, and while the initial plan may have been to wait until other jobs became available – Real Madrid and Manchester United have already shown interest and his name could be in the discussion if a vacancy arises – the American’s offer forced a quick decision just weeks after leaving the west London club. In the end it was a no-brainer and will be seen as a coup for him.
US Soccer’s sports department has already won an Olympic gold medal under the leadership of Emma Hayes, who contacted Pochettinio to talk about her early experiences working there. Hayes and Pochettinio have always spoken highly of each other and spent a year together at Chelsea, as well as enjoying a light-hearted approach to football at Soccer Aid.
US Soccer believes they have put together a plan to make significant progress in both the men’s and women’s games. Pochettino, who will be able to speak either English or Spanish due to the large Hispanic population in the US, is re-energized and embracing a positive new challenge.
