The USA want to show off at the 2026 World Cup at home – and are backing national team coach Mauricio Pochettino. This is a first for both sides
When Chelsea FC take part in the Club World Cup in the USA in 2025, Mauricio Pochettino will be long gone. Instead, the 52-year-old will experience the “real” World Cup up close in the same place a year later. On Wednesday, the US Soccer Federation officially appointed Pochettino as the new national team coach. He succeeds Gregg Berhalter.
This is the first time an Argentinian has been in charge of the USA men’s national team – and the first time Pochettino has been national coach. The former international enjoyed his most successful time to date as a coach at Tottenham Hotspur (2014 to 2019), which he led to the 2019 Champions League final, among others, before winning his only titles at Paris Saint-Germain. Last season, he led Chelsea to sixth place and the Europa Conference League with a final spurt before parting ways by mutual consent after just one year
Pochettino should awaken the “immense potential” in the squad
Now he is to prepare the USA for the 2026 World Cup, which they will host together with Canada and Mexico, as the hoped-for major solution to the coaching issue. “Mauricio is a serial winner with a great passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said US Sports Director Matt Crocker. “His track record speaks for itself, and I’m confident he’s the right choice to capitalize on the immense potential in our talented roster. “
Pochettino had already worked briefly with Crocker, then head of the youth academy, at Southampton in 2013. “The energy, the passion and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me,” the new coach is quoted as saying in the club’s press release.
Ex-Bundesliga professional Berhalter, who had to vacate his post at the beginning of July, had 44 wins from 74 games as US national team coach, but was unable to prevent the team from being eliminated as co-hosts at this year’s Copa America in the group stage, despite winning their first game.
Recent test matches with interim coach Varas
Pochettino will make his debut in the fall when the U.S. faces friendlies against Panama (Oct. 13, 3 p.m.) and Mexico (Oct. 16, 4:30 p.m., both CEST). Mikey Varas served as interim coach in the recent tests against Canada (1-2) and New Zealand (1-1).