MIAMI: Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has been named the new coach of the U.S. national team, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Tuesday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Espanyol manager replaces American Gregg Berhalter, who was fired in July after a disappointing Copa America season.
Pochettino is the most famous coach to ever lead the U.S. national team and the first foreigner since German Juergen Klinsmann, who was fired in 2016.
Pochettino, 52, has been unemployed since he suddenly left Chelsea in May after just one season in charge.
U.S. Soccer did not provide details on the length of the contract, but Pochettino will lead the team into the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Mexico and Canada.
“Mauricio is a serial champion with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive, competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, U.S. Soccer’s sporting director who led the search for a new coach.
“His resume speaks for itself and I am confident he is the right choice to unlock the immense potential of our talented squad,” he added.
Pochettino has a proven track record of nurturing young talent at Southampton, Tottenham and Spanish side Espanyol early in his coaching career.
At Tottenham, Pochettino played a pivotal role in shaping the career of England captain Harry Kane and transformed Spurs into regular top-four finishes, including guiding them to the Champions League final in 2019.
The Argentine, who coached stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé in Paris, said he was excited about the opportunity to advance the U.S. team.
“For me, the decision to join US Soccer wasn’t just about football; it was about the journey this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said.
“The energy, the passion and the hunger to make 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 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 will build something special that the entire nation can be proud of,” he added.
Pochettino inherits a relatively young team that reached the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, losing to the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
But hopes that the young squad could push forward to 2026 were dashed by a disappointing Copa America campaign in July, when the team failed to progress beyond the group stage, finishing with just one win from three games after defeats to Panama and Uruguay.
Berhalter, who had been harshly criticized by fans and pundits, was fired and the federation took its time looking for a replacement.
U.S. Soccer general manager JT Batson said he believes Pochettino is the right coach to get the best out of a team led by AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic.
“His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to talent development and his tireless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
The financial package to bring Pochettino involved negotiations with his former club Chelsea and included help from donations from the business world.
“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 business partners,” U.S. Soccer said in its statement.
It is the second appointment for Crocker, a Welshman who previously worked under Pochettino at Southampton.
Crocker has hired another former Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes, to lead the women's team, which she led to Olympic gold at the Paris Games last month.
