Mauricio Pochettino was finally named the new head coach of the United States men’s national team on Tuesday.
The Argentine tactician – who’s overseen Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea – signed a contract that will see him “lead the team into the FIFA World Cup 2026 on home soil,” the U.S. Soccer Federation said in a statement.
The United States will co-host the 2026 event with Canada and Mexico.
His contract runs for two years, Jeff Carlisle of ESPN reports. He’ll be officially unveiled Friday, and his first match in charge of the team is expected to be the friendly against Panama on Oct. 12.
The 52-year-old reportedly accepted the USMNT role almost a month ago. One of the factors that may have delayed his appointment was Pochettino needing to reach a severance agreement with Chelsea, the club he left in May after one season at the helm.
Pochettino succeeds Gregg Berhalter, who was fired after the United States’ disappointing group-stage exit at this year’s Copa America.
“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker, who spearheaded the search for Berhalter’s replacement. “His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”
Pochettino, who has worked with the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Harry Kane during his managerial career, said the national team’s “hunger to achieve something truly historic” attracted him to the position.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of,” he added.
Pochettino will earn $6 million per year, according to Carlisle. That makes him the highest-paid coach in USMNT history. He’s also the first foreign bench boss to lead the team since Jurgen Klinsmann.
The U.S. Soccer Federation said that Pochettino’s appointment was supported “in significant part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst.”