Mauricio Pochettino is the new coach of the United States

Former PSG and Chelsea player, Argentine announced as US coach for 2026 World Cup

Mauricio Pochettino was announced on Tuesday as the new coach of the United States national team, with his sights set on the 2026 World Cup. At 52, the Argentine coach takes over the US just over three months after leaving Chelsea . The position had been vacant since Gregg Berhalter was fired after the Copa America.

— The decision to coach the USA was not just about football for me. It is about the journey this team and this country are on. The energy, the passion and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here — Pochettino said.

Pochettino was one of the main targets of the American confederation and was also one of the candidates to take over the England national team, with the departure of Gareth Southgate after the runner-up finish at the European Championship. With the agreement with the United States, it will be the Argentine’s first time leading a national team. It is worth remembering that the 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Pochettino took charge of Chelsea in the 2023/24 season and got the club back into European competition. The Blues finished sixth in the Premier League and will play in the Conference League in 2024/25. Despite a surge in the final months of the season, the manager has been constantly questioned after poor results.

Pochettino began his coaching career at Espanyol in 2009 and has also worked at Southampton, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Chelsea. He has won three titles as a coach with PSG (one Ligue 1, one Coupe de France and one French Super Cup).