- The Argentine will have his first experience with a national team.
- His main goal is the 2026 World Cup, where the United States will again be a host.
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Mauricio Pochettino as the replacement for Gregg Berhalter, who coached the U.S. during the last CONMEBOL Copa América™.
The United States hosted the world's oldest national team tournament and was the top seed in Group C, which included Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia. A win against La Verde and losses in the other two matches resulted in Berhalter’s team being eliminated in the Group Stage.
With the focus on the 2026 World Cup, where the United States will be one of the hosts (alongside Mexico and Canada), Pochettino will take charge of the team.
“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said Matt Crocker, Sporting Director of U.S. Soccer.
This will be Pochettino's first experience with a national team. At 52, he has already managed Espanyol (Spain), Southampton, Tottenham, Chelsea (all three in England), and Paris Saint-Germain (France). He won three titles with PSG and was a Champions League finalist with Tottenham.
As a player, Pochettino participated in the CONMEBOL Copa América 1999™. He played two matches for the Argentina national team, which was coached by Marcelo Bielsa.
