The United States has pulled off a huge coup and appointed experienced Premier League manager Mauricio Pochettino as its new head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup
Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has been announced as the new head coach of the United States.
Pochettino has sealed a quick return to management after leaving Chelsea at the end of last season and being replaced by Enzo Maresca. US Soccer has tapped up the Argentine, to lead their efforts heading into the 2026 World Cup, which will be held on US soil, as well as neighbours Canada and Mexico.
“The decision to join U.S. Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that 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, is something I couldn’t pass up. I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”
It will be Pochettino’s first taste of international football, after carving out an impressive club career in Spain, England and France. The 52-year-old first managed his beloved Espanyol in Spain, before making the switch to the South Coast with Southampton.
It was at the Saints where he first caught the eye of some of the Premier League’s elites, and it was Spurs who took on the eager manager. The Argentine never won silverware at White Hart Lane – but he did manage a League Cup final in 2015, and a club-first Champions League final appearance in 2019 against Liverpool.After being sacked in the following campaign due to Spurs’ European heartbreak, Pochettino took a short break before being handed the reigns of French giants, Paris Saint-Germain. He was unable to help the Parisians win Ligue 1 as Lille took the crown.