The road to the 2026 World Cup for the United States men’s national team has a new leader in Mauricio Pochettino, per multiple reports, including the Athletic. The former manager of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham, Southampton and Espanyol was listed as one of the top targets for the US Soccer Federation according to The Athletic and it has found its man just in time for the September international window when the United States faces Canada and New Zealand.
Pochettino will replace Gregg Berhalter, who oversaw the USMNT from 2018 until July 2024, when he was fired following the USMNT’s failure to advance from their group at the Copa America. That was the end of an era where Berhalter had the team regularly competitive in Concacaf, but he failed to take them further against teams around the world.
By signing the Argentine, the USMNT will now have a coach who has coached some of the best players in the world and also competed against some of the best teams. He will come in with high expectations, as simply dropping out of the group at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will not be good enough, but Pochettino will be aware of those expectations.
A manager with a dynamic style, Pochettino’s press will suit the players in the squad well, and his use of wingers and full-backs could get the best out of the likes of Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic. He can be flexible when necessary, utilizing a back three and his football is something that USMNT fans will hopefully enjoy as it has historically been a feast for the eyes and forefoot.
While a national coach’s job is to win games with the best group of players he can select, Pochettino’s background in player development also comes in handy. Players have improved under his watch and with things like the January camp, where the USMNT manager can watch domestic players for an extended period of time, his experience can be useful in suggesting areas where the future of American football can improve .
The speed of this rental shows how important it is. It takes less than two months to bring in a new manager and ensure he is ready when the new European season starts. Pochettino will then have time to see the players of his new team and prepare for the international period in September.
Here are some important upcoming dates for the USMNT to keep in mind:
- September 7, 2024: Friendly against Canada
- September 10, 2024: Friendly against New Zealand
- October 12, 2024: Friendly match against Panama
- November 11-19, 2024: Quarter-finals of the Concacaf Nations League
- March 20, 2025: Semi-finals of the Concacaf Nations League
- March 23, 2025: Concacaf Nations League final
- June 11 – July 19, 2026: World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico
It’s a new era for the USMNT and an experienced manager will oversee it. While it will take some time to determine if this is the right choice, US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker has done what he can to bring in someone who can take the USMNT to the next level.