- Berhalter was sacked last month after the US’s disappointing Copa America campaign
- The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada
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Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly agreed to become the new coach of the United States national soccer team.
The former Tottenham manager has been out of work since leaving Chelsea at the end of last season and was linked with the vacant England manager role following the departure of Gareth Southgate last month.
His arrival at the North American club, who sacked former national coach Gregg Berhalter after a poor Copa America campaign in July, is a major coup.
The US are just two years away from co-hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1994. According to The Telegraph, Pochettino has now agreed to take on the role of the new national team manager after speculation about his move.
The length of his contract has not yet been disclosed, but he will be tasked with improving the fortunes of the team, which has faltered in recent years, by becoming host in 2026.
Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly agreed to become the new coach of the United States men’s national team
Gregg Berhalter (left) was fired last month after the US became the first Copa America host to fail beyond the group stage.
Earlier this month, the US became the first Copa America host nation to fail to advance beyond the group stage, a failure that proved to be the final straw for Berhalter in his second stint in the role.
In his first stint as U.S. coach, from December 2018 to December 2022, Berhalter won 61 percent of his 60 games. In his second stint, lasting just 11 months, that winning percentage dropped to 50 percent.
Berhalter’s contract expired early at the end of the 2022 World Cup and he was embroiled in an off-field scandal involving his former teammate Claudio Reyna.
Berhalter criticized Reyna’s son Gio, who was part of the U.S. team at the World Cup, leading his mother Danielle to notify the U.S. Soccer Federation of a 1992 domestic violence incident involving Berhalter and his then-girlfriend, now his wife.
That led to a lengthy investigation, which left Berhalter out of the team for six months before he was officially reinstated for a second stint as manager.
The US Soccer Federation approached former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp with ambitions for the position, but their attempt was rejected by the German.
However, Pochettino’s arrival is a clear signal of intent, especially given his links with the Three Lions function.
Pochettino has been unemployed since leaving Chelsea at the end of last season
Under-21 manager Lee Carsely has taken temporary charge of the squad for the coming matches while a permanent replacement for Southgate is sought.
Pochettino remains one of the most respected managers in world football, with successful spells at Southampton, Spurs and PSG. His short stay in west London was tumultuous, although he turned the side’s fortunes around towards the end of the campaign.
And his departure came as a surprise after leading the team to a sixth-place finish and European qualification.