Mauricio Pochettino becomes new head coach of the US national team

Mauricio Pochettino is the new coach of the US men’s national team, the US Soccer Association announced on Tuesday.

Pochettino, 52, has signed a two-year contract that will keep him through the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico. He succeeds Gregg Berhalter, who was fired following the USMNT's poor performance at the 2024 Copa América.

Pochettino will be unveiled in New York City on Friday.

“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” USSF athletic director Matt Crocker said in a statement. “His track record speaks for itself and I am confident he is the right choice to realize the tremendous potential of our talented roster. We are excited to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”

ESPN reported last month that the former Argentina international had agreed to take the job after lengthy talks with Crocker. Crocker, who previously worked with Pochettino at Premier League side Southampton, had been tasked with recruiting a world-class coach to ensure the USMNT goes into the 2026 World Cup as a competitive nation, capable of reaching the later rounds of the competition.

Pochettino undoubtedly brings a coaching pedigree that is unparalleled in USMNT history. The Argentine has coached at some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. In that time, he has coached some of the game's best players, including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Harry Kane. In addition to Southampton, he has also coached Spanish club Espanyol, where he also spent a lot of time as a player.

“The decision to join U.S. Soccer for me wasn't just about soccer; it was about the journey this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said. “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 was something I couldn't pass up.”

“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together we will build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”

Sources have told ESPN that Pochettino will receive a salary of $6 million per year. Although that is a pay cut from his previous job at Chelsea, it will make him the highest-paid coach in USMNT history.

According to the USSF's 2022 tax return, Berhalter earned $2,291,136 in 2022, including $900,000 in bonuses for helping the Americans qualify for the World Championship and reach the second round.

In its announcement, the USSF noted that Pochettino's appointment is supported in large part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support was provided by Scott Goodwin, co-founder and managing partner of Diameter, and several commercial partners.

The announcement concludes a courting of the club that had dragged on for the past few weeks over the amount of compensation Chelsea would continue to pay Pochettino and his team. The fact that the talks with Chelsea took place just before the end of the summer transfer window in Europe caused further delays.

Efforts to sign Jürgen Klopp after his departure from Liverpool in the summer failed. At one point, Hoffenheim coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was considered the most promising candidate. But the FA eventually focused on Pochettino and his willingness to take on the role is a major coup for the USSF.

Pochettino is expected to bring on board long-time assistant coaches Jesús Pérez and Miguel d'Agostino, as well as goalkeeping coach Toni Jiménez. He will take charge of the USMNT for the first time in a friendly against Panama in Austin on October 12, followed by a meeting with Mexico in Guadalajara three days later.

“The hiring of Mauricio is a step forward in our mission to compete at the highest level and make a lasting mark on the global soccer landscape,” said JT Batson, CEO of US Soccer. “His deep knowledge of the game, commitment to developing talent and relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup.”

“Mauricio understands the unique potential of this team and this country, and he shares our belief that US Soccer is on the cusp of something truly special.”

Pochettino takes over a team that is clearly in crisis. After their respectable performance in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the USMNT was considered to be on the rise. Since then, the USA has won two consecutive Concacaf Nations League titles.

However, the 2024 Copa América was always considered a more difficult challenge and the USA fell short of expectations, failing to extricate themselves from a group consisting of Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay. The USA also suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to Colombia in a pre-tournament friendly.

The USMNT's form has not improved since then. On Saturday, the U.S. national team suffered a 2-1 loss to Canada in Kansas City, Kansas. The team was led by former assistant coach Mikey Varas on an interim basis. In that game, the U.S. was clearly second best in all phases, having 11 more shots on goal than the team in the first half. Later on Tuesday, the U.S. will face New Zealand in Cincinnati.

Pochettino will have a talented group of players to work with, including AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, Juventus duo Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, and Monaco striker Folarin Balogun. Pochettino will not have much time to work with the players, with only eight transfer windows remaining until the 2026 World Cup, including the 2025 Gold Cup next summer.

Pochettino is from Murphy, Argentina. He has 20 caps, scoring two goals, and was part of the Argentina team that participated in the 2002 World Cup. At club level, he began his professional career with Argentine club Newell's Old Boys before moving to Espanyol, Paris-Saint-Germain and Bordeaux, making over 500 appearances.