Mauricio Pochettino is set to leave his role as United States men's national team head coach to join Manchester United after the current USMNT camp concludes, ending a two-year tenure that included the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
His final matches will be the two-legged Concacaf Nations League semifinals against Haiti, first on Saturday at Miami's Nu Stadium and second on Tuesday at Cincinnati's TQL Stadium. Pochettino signed a four-year contract extension in August 2024, making him the highest-paid coach in U.S. Soccer history.
The move comes as Manchester United sit in the Premier League relegation zone with one win in ten games. Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, has long expressed a desire to return to the Premier League.
U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson said in May that Pochettino had standing offers from other clubs but chose to stay, calling him a "big believer in soccer in America." The federation was aware of interest from AC Milan, who ultimately hired Ruben Amorim.
Pochettino's USMNT record stands at 21 wins in 45 games, mostly against lower-ranked opponents. The team exited the World Cup in the round of 16 after a loss to Belgium. However, he implemented an attack-minded, high-intensity system and expanded the player pool, bringing in players like Alex Freeman, Sebastian Berhalter, Malik Tillman, and Ricardo Pepi.
His departure leaves the USMNT with a clearer roadmap toward the 2030 World Cup and a talented generation including Cavan Sullivan and Adri Mehmeti. The next coach will be tasked with maximizing the attacking talent Pochettino helped develop.
