The USMMT has named Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup. After a disappointing exit in the 2024 Copa América, the USMNT sacked Gregg Berhalter, pointing towards a much-needed change to push the squad forward.
Fabrizio Romano shared on August 15 that Pochettino was to be named the next head coach after discussions concluded with other candidates. Now, the Argentinian has officially put pen to paper.
Mauricio Pochettino named USMNT head coach
Pochettino brings an impressive résumé to the USMNT. The Argentinian has managed some of the world’s biggest clubs, such as Chelsea and Paris Sant-Germain. He began his managing career in 2009 with Spanish side Espanyol. After leaving Espanyol, he managed Premier League side Southampton from January 2013 – May 2014. ‘Poch’ then made the jump to Tottenham Hotspur, where he managed the North London club from July 2014 – November 2019.
The 52-year-old made a name for himself while coaching Spurs. During the 2016-17 Premier League season, Tottenham finished second in the league with 86 points. Two years later, Pochettino led Spurs to the UEFA Champions League Final in Madrid, ultimately falling to Liverpool, 2-0.
After he was let go by Tottenham, he joined French side Paris Saint-Germain. During his tenure at PSG, Pochettino coached players such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar. He won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions. PSG made it to the semi-final of the Champions League in 2021 but was eliminated by Manchester City.
Following his PSG exit in July 2022, he was announced as Chelsea’s next head coach in May 2023. Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League in 2023-24 and won their final five matches of the season. Despite qualifying for European football (Europa Conference League), Pochettino was sacked after reports came out that there were disagreements regarding strategy and squad management moving forward.
After being back in the market for over a year, Pochettino will now be managing on the international stage for the USMNT.
What it means for USMNT
Joining the USMNT in what many call the “golden generation” of players, Pochettino will have his work cut out for him. Berhalter messily exited the USMNT as there was a past controversy between him and Gio Reyna, and rumors of him losing the room and being too lenient.
Pochettino will enter an environment that is in desperate need of change. He has the reputation of being a “players’ coach” which could be a negative considering the room was too lenient in the final days of Berhalter. Nonetheless, USSF technical director Matt Crocker mentioned that he wanted to find a “serial winning coach” during the managerial search and wanted to invest heavily in the best person possible.
The 2026 World Cup will be one of great importance for the USMNT. Not only is the tournament hosted in North America, but it could be one of the final moments to push the USMNT to the next level in this “golden generation”. With high-level talents such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams headlining the team, they know what is on the line heading into 2026. Making the round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup was seen as a success, but the disappointing exit from Copa América highlighted countless within the squad.
As of right now, the USMNT has found their “serial winning coach” who has a history of coaching some of the best players in the world at some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Leading up to the 2026 World Cup, all eyes will be focused on Pochettino’s USMNT and how he can elevate the squad against the world’s best.
Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
