Mauricio Pochettino Poised to Lead U.S. Men's National Team

Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) are finalizing a deal for Pochettino to become the men's national team coach, a source close to the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The former Tottenham, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain coach has agreed to take on the role, but the agreement has not yet been completed.

Pochettino would replace Gregg Berhalter less than 22 months before the U.S. hosts the 2026 World Cup.

The USSF declined to comment on the matter.

Pochettino, a 52-year-old Argentine, would be the first foreign-born coach for the U.S. since Jurgen Klinsmann (2011-16).

His coaching resume includes stints at Espanyol in Spain (2009-12), Southampton (2013-14), Tottenham (2014-19), Chelsea (2023-24), and PSG in France (2021-22), where he won a Ligue 1 title.

USSF Sporting Director Matt Crocker, who oversees the coaching search, previously worked with Pochettino at Southampton, where he was the academy director when Pochettino joined the club.

The U.S. has upcoming friendlies against Canada on September 7, New Zealand on September 10, Panama on October 12, and another opponent on October 15.

The next competitive matches are the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals in November.

Mikey Varas, a Berhalter assistant, might lead the team for the September matches, with Pochettino potentially taking over in October.

Berhalter was dismissed on July 10, a week after the U.S. exited the Copa America in the first round.

Initially hired in December 2018, Berhalter left after his contract expired following a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup's second round.

He was rehired in June 2023 but faced dismissal again post-Copa America.

Pochettino will inherit a squad led by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, who have excelled in European clubs.

However, goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath, and midfielder Gio Reyna have struggled for playing time in top-tier teams.

At Crystal Palace, Chris Richards is the only central defender in his 20s who regularly plays in a top European league.

Berhalter's tenure saw minimal use of Major League Soccer (MLS) players, excluding them during the Copa America.

Berhalter previously coached the Columbus Crew in MLS.

The team has faced discipline issues, with defender Sergiño Dest receiving two red cards in 13 months and McKennie and winger Tim Weah each getting one.

Pochettino, a former central defender, played for Newell's Old Boys in Argentina, and Espanyol, PSG, and Bordeaux in Europe from the late 1980s until 2006.

He earned 20 caps for Argentina, participating in the 1999 Copa América and the 2002 World Cup.

After retiring, he became a coach in Espanyol's system, taking over as head coach in January 2009 and saving the team from relegation before being fired in November 2012.

He then joined Southampton in January 2013.

Pochettino moved to Tottenham in May 2014, leading the team to the 2015 League Cup final and the 2019 Champions League final.

He was dismissed in November 2019 and replaced by Jose Mourinho. PSG hired Pochettino in January 2021, where he secured a second-place league finish, a Champions League semifinal spot, and a French Cup win.

He left PSG at the end of the 2022-23 season and joined Chelsea in June 2023, but left after the team finished sixth in the Premier League and lost the League Cup final.