Mauricio Pochettino CONFIRMED as new USMNT manager as former Chelsea boss takes over from Gregg Berhalter

Mauricio Pochettino has officially been confirmed as the new head coach of the United States men’s national team.

Almost a month after it emerged that the former Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea boss had agreed to take the job, Pochettino’s appointment was finally made official on Tuesday. 

He takes over from Gregg Berhalter, who was fired after a disastrous Copa America campaign that saw the USA become the first host nation in history to be eliminated in the group stages.

Pochettino has worked at some of Europe’s biggest clubs but this marks the first time he will be working in international football.

With Pochettino hired to run the USMNT, it means both Chelsea’s men’s and women’s first-team managers from last season would now be at the helm of the senior US national teams with Emma Hayes’ hired to the US women’s national team.

He takes over from Gregg Berhalter, whose lack of success led to his downfall atop the USMNT

Pochettino’s hiring is a statement of intent by US Soccer ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The appointment was confirmed on Tuesday night, shortly before the USMNT took on New Zealand in Cincinnati. Following the disappointment of Copa America, the USA were beaten 2-1 by rivals Canada over the weekend.

Pochettino takes over a squad of players that have not fully lived up to their potential, but competed well on the world stage at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

There, under Berhalter, the United States drew matches against Wales and England before knocking off political rivals Iran to advance to the knockout stages. There, they lost to The Netherlands.

Since then, and throughout Berhalter’s tenure, the United States was unable to get a ‘signature win’ against top opposition – losing 3-1 to Germany in East Hartford, Connecticut in 2023 and 5-1 to Colombia in Washington, DC this past summer before eeking out a 1-1 draw against Brazil in Orlando.

Pochettino will be expected to guide the US to success when they host the 2026 World Cup

However, throughout Berhalter’s tenure, the United States has been by far the most dominant side in CONCACAF – winning the Gold Cup once and the Nations League twice.

At the Copa America, the team started on the right course with a 2-0 win over Bolivia in Dallas before falling 2-1 to CONCACAF rivals Panama in Atlanta.

The death knell to their hopes of making it to the group stage came with a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay that signified the end of the Berhalter era.

Now, with Pochettino at the helm, the United States is hoping he can reinvigorate an apathetic fanbase which believes they have not seen the best that this nation can offer.

All eyes are now set on the 2026 FIFA World Cup – with the United States set to play their group stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.