August 16 – Former Paris St Germain, Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino looks set to take over as coach of the United States men’s team.
The Argentine, who has been out of work since parting ways with Chelsea in May after just one season, would lead the team into the 2026 World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Reports say Pochettino will be installed in time for the USA’s September 7 friendly game against Canada in Kansas City.
The U.S. men’s team have been without a coach since Gregg Berhalter was fired in July, 10 months into his second term as head coach, following a humiliating early exit on home soil at the Copa America.
Pochettino had joined Chelsea ahead of the 2023-24 campaign when he replaced interim manager Frank Lampard as the club’s new owners looked to freshen things up after a 12th-place finish the previous season.
He signed a two-year contract but parted company despite a late rally that saw Chelsea finish sixth to secure European football for next season.
When the deal is finalised, Pochettino – who would be a real coup for the US — will become the first foreign-born coach to lead the country since Jurgen Klinsmann from 2011-16. He has also coached Espanyol in Spain (2009-12) and Southampton (2013-14).
Matt Crocker, the USSF’s sporting director in charge of the search for a new man at the helm, was Southampton’s academy director when Pochettino started there.
The USA’s next competitive matches are a two-leg Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal in November.
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