Mauricio Pochettino is likely to pick up the managerial position of the United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT), with the assignment of helping the team into the 2026 World Cup.
Pochettino, 52, gently left Chelsea earlier this summer after coaching the Blues for just a season at Stamford Bridge.
The talented coach, who had formerly managed Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, will be replacing Gregg Berhalter as USMNT head coach after extensive conversation with Matt Crocker, the USSF technical director.
While this information is quoted from sources, no final agreement has been signed between the USMNT and Mauricio Pochettino, and the USSF board of directors has not approved the contract. A regular board meeting will be held on August 23rd, but a special meeting could be held to finalize Pochettino’s appointment, according to a source.
Crocker was asked to help the United States recruit a world-class coach to ensure the USMNT is competitive in the 2026 World Cup—jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—and capable of advancing to the latter stages of the tournament due to his experience with Premier League team Southampton and the English Football Association.
The country did all that it could to recruit Jürgen Klopp after he left Liverpool this summer, but the effort did not materialize. Securing Pochettino for the managerial position is seen as a significant achievement for the USSF.
A different source included that Pochettino will be unable to officially sign a new contract even with the USMNT due to his unresolved situation with Chelsea, as he is still owed money by the Premier League club.
Pochettino should have taken up the position to coach the USMNT for their match against Canada in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 7.
Pochettino would also have the opportunity to maintain a European base rather than move to the U.S. full-time, as he could monitor the majority of the national team players in major European leagues.
Another source added that aside from the United States, which needs Pochettino, England is also interested in him to replace Gareth Southgate.
