ATLANTA — Mauricio Pochettino will depart his role as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team following the conclusion of the current camp to become head coach of Manchester United, U.S. Soccer announced today.
Pochettino and his staff will remain responsible for all national team activities through the end of the current window, coaching the USMNT in upcoming matches against Haiti tomorrow and Tuesday.
Pochettino was named head coach in September 2024. During his tenure leading the national program, the manager compiled a record of 21 wins, 12 losses and two draws across 35 matches.
Under Pochettino’s leadership, the United States reached the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Final and advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
The USMNT finished first in its World Cup group and earned its first knockout-round victory since 2002. With three tournament victories, Pochettino recorded the most World Cup wins of any head coach in USMNT history.
Pochettino also broadened the senior-team player pool, with 75 players earning at least one cap during his tenure. He and his staff established clearer connections between the Youth National Teams and the senior team.
In the most recent window, 11 players under age 21 made their senior debuts, including eight teenagers.
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Across the team’s recent four-match winning streak, seven of its 12 goals were scored by players who were uncapped when the stretch began.
Additionally, three of those players joined the list of the youngest goalscorers in USMNT history.
U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson praised Pochettino’s impact on the overall program structure and team culture.
“Mauricio has left a lasting mark on U.S. Soccer through his leadership, professionalism and commitment to our players and culture,” Batson said. “What we are most proud of goes beyond the wins. He and his staff raised standards, strengthened our culture and created clearer connections from the Youth National Teams to the senior team. Those changes are now embedded in how we operate and we will keep building on them as we pursue sustained success on the world stage.”
Pochettino expressed gratitude to the federation, players and supporters upon announcing his departure.
“The opportunity to represent the USA crest was one of the greatest honors of my career. We are so grateful to the players for their commitment, to the fans for their belief and to the Federation for always supporting our staff and creating the opportunities to impact the culture of soccer in this great country,” Pochettino said. “We want to thank Cindy Parlow Cone, JT Batson and Dan Helfrich for their partnership and incredible working relationships throughout our time here. There is tremendous talent in the U.S. player pool from the youth teams through to the senior team and it’s one of the reasons we have so much belief for the future of U.S. Soccer. You will always have a special place in our hearts and we will be supporting the teams whenever they step on the field.”
U.S. Soccer Cone expressed appreciation for Pochettino’s contributions over his tenure.
“I want to thank Mauricio and his staff for all their contributions over the past two years to move our Men’s National Team forward and wish him all the best at Manchester United,” Cone said. “As we look ahead, we have an exciting group of players and our focus at the completion of this FIFA window is on finding the right coaching staff to help us build on the progress we’ve built and lead this team to even more success on the world stage.”
Prior to joining U.S. Soccer, Pochettino managed Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea during more than two decades of coaching in European soccer.
Following the current international window, Steve Cherundolo will lead the team’s scheduled December camp, which will feature a roster composed primarily of Major League Soccer players. The camp will reflect increased alignment between senior and Olympic programs, with no separate Under-23 camp scheduled for December.
Batson and U.S. Soccer Chief Operating Officer Helfrich, alongside Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes and sporting executive Oguchi Onyewu, will lead the search for the next USMNT head coach.
“With the great combination of veterans, fantastic young talent and a world-class facility, we are confident in the future of this program,” Batson said. “We are looking for a leader with the talent, experience and belief to match our ambition, build on the culture and pathway now in place and help the USMNT take the next step.”