Mauricio Pochettino leaves USMNT for Manchester United: NPR

Mauricio Pochettino took over as coach of the United States men’s national team in 2024 and led the USMNT to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Last August, Pochettino signed an extension to lead the team to the 2030 World Cup. He left to coach Manchester United.

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Omar Vega/Getty Images

Mauricio Pochettino, who took over the United States men’s national soccer team in 2024 and led the team to the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is leaving to take over as coach of the famous English Premier League club, Manchester United.

Pochettino was the highest-profile manager the U.S. men’s team had ever hired. His aggressive attacking style of play has earned him praise from his players and fans. At the 2026 World Cup, the USMNT finished first in their group and won their first knockout match since 2002. Pochettino’s three victories were the most in any World Cup by a USMNT coach.

At a press conference on Friday, an emotional Pochettino described the decision as “one of the most difficult decisions” of his career. He had been “excited” about the proposed overhaul of the U.S. men’s national team, he said, but ultimately Manchester United’s offer represented “the next step in trying to make your dreams come true.”

U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson credited Pochettino with raising the bar within the federation, and particularly in the men’s program, which has long been considered a notch or two below traditional soccer powers in Europe and South America but has ambitions to compete at the highest levels. “The belief in what is possible for football in this country has never been greater,” Batson said.

When Pochettino arrived, there were only about 18 months until last summer’s World Cup. In that limited time frame, he set about tearing down what he saw as a culture of complacency and rebuilding the roster from the ground up. He evaluated more than 70 players, ultimately revealing several key contributors to the World Cup squad.

“He means so much to me. He helped me develop as a player and as a person. As a player, that’s all you can ask for, to have that confidence in yourself,” said midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.

As a player, Pochettino represented Argentina in the 2002 World Cup and played in soccer leagues in Spain and France. As a coach, he has managed some of Europe’s most famous clubs: Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. In August, he signed an extension to lead the USMNT through the 2030 World Cup, giving him a full four-year cycle to make the team a true contender.

Pochettino will lead the United States for two more matches – both against Haiti in the coming days – before leaving for Manchester United.