After initial talks began in the late spring, the USSF officially hired Pochettino, who previously coached some of the world’s biggest clubs.
A new era has begun for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) with the hiring of Mauricio Pochettino, who is faced with the lofty challenge of revitalizing a program that has languished over the past year.
After
initial talks began in the late spring, the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) officially hired Pochettino, who previously coached some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea.
The 52-year-old
Pochettino, who hails from Argentina, has been praised for his ability to develop young players. That skill will be especially beneficial to the U.S. team, which has several emerging stars aged 25 or younger. It also aligns with the overall goal of U.S. soccer to develop young players throughout the country to create a network of players who can compete for spots on the national team.
“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said in a statement issued on Sept. 10. “His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”
An intensive search began for a new national team coach after Crocker and the USSF fired Gregg Berhalter following a disappointing performance in this summer’s 2024 Copa América. The Americans failed to advance from the group stage for the first time on home soil, following losses to Uruguay and Panama.
The USSF appointed
Mikey Varas, the former coach of the U.S. under-20 team, as the interim head coach for a pair of matches over the last week, but he did not fare well either. The Americans lost to Canada in the United States for the
first time in 67 years, dropping the match 2–1 in Kansas City on Saturday. The U.S. team then had another lackluster performance in a
1–1 tie against New Zealand on Tuesday in Cincinnati.
Christian Pulisic, widely regarded as the national team’s best player, scored the goal against New Zealand. The 25-year-old is excited to begin playing for Pochettino but hopes the new coach can change the program’s overall culture.
Pulisic, who plays for AC Milan, is part of a strong group of U.S. players who compete for some of the world’s top clubs, along with Tim Weah (age 25, Juventus). Folarin Balogun (age 23, Monaco), Gio Reyna (age 21, Borussia Dortmund), Sergino Dest (age 23, PSV Eindhoven), and Yunus Musah (age 21, AC Milan).
However, these young players sometimes appeared to lack direction within the national team. Pulisic is looking for a shift in that dynamic.
When asked what Pochettino brings to the U.S. team following the game against New Zealand, Pulisic said: “Hopefully, a culture that is willing to fight, that is willing to take risks ... win. There [are] a lot of things that need to change. Just the mentality and the culture of the group. We have the quality, but hopefully, that’s the first thing that he is going to want to change.”
Pochettino can also relate to the young men because he competed as a player for top-tier clubs, such as Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux, and earned 20 caps for Argentina from 1999 to 2002.
Now, he must get the United States ready for the 2026 World Cup, in which expectations will be high as one of the three hosts for the tournament, along with Mexico and Canada. He is expected to make his debut
against Panama on Oct. 12 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
Now, the hard work begins.
