Just 102 days after signing a four-year contract extension as U.S. men’s national team head coach, Mauricio Pochettino is leaving to take charge of Manchester United. After coaching the USA against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals, the USMNT’s first Latin American full-time head coach will end a tenure of two years and 10 weeks at the U.S. helm.
Manchester United is reportedly signing Pochettino to two-and-a-half-year contract to replace fired Michael Carrick. The Premier League club will reportedly pay U.S. Soccer $10 million in compensation for Pochettino and $2 million for the departure of his coaching staff.
Steve Cherundolo, who currently coaches the U.S. U-23 team, will take charge of the previously scheduled December camp featuring a primarily MLS-based roster. There will be no separate U-23 camp in December.
Pochettino previously coached Premier League clubs Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, with a stint at Paris Saint-Germain between his tenures at Tottenham and Chelsea.
U.S. Soccer hired Pochettino in September 2024. His tenure included a runner-up finish at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup and a run to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, where the USA won its group and earned its first knockout-round victory since 2002.
Three players who debuted under Pochettino played in the 2026 World Cup: goalkeeper Matt Freese, outside back Alex Freeman and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.
Pochettino’s departure comes amid growing optimism about the national team’s future following four straight wins over Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. During that stretch, 11 players under age 21 made their senior-team debuts, including eight teenagers. Seven of the USA’s 12 goals came from players who were uncapped when the camp began.
“Mauricio has left a lasting mark on U.S. Soccer through his leadership, professionalism and commitment to our players and culture,” said U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson said in a statement. “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.”
just get Pep
not surprised.
good luck at ManMess.
That he had the buyout clause was a leading indicator that this was possible. Thank you to ManU and UK for financing a bit of our next hire. Maybe this was foreseen and just a way to give a favor to USA. Better he leaves early in the cycle that later, lotta runway. He survived many years at Tottenham, but ManU a much bigger mess. Surely his and his staffs pay package reflects. This is good for USA in their search bc it proves, unlike GB, who went back to MLS, that a coach can come here, and grow his career. For USA, we need to look far and wide, this is not an easy task here, still. Just say no to the one in charge of Canada now. Please leave him up there where they all have the extenstion cords ported to their engine cooling systems.
Dude, too funny, and yes the born again Canadian needs to stay his ass up north. I am sure he’s secretly enjoying our current situation. One thing Pochettino did was to show the rest of the world that the USA has some promising young talent coming through the program.
Glad it happened early in the cycle. Will be interested to see what Cherundolo does with the team in the interim. I’ve always liked him as a player and coach. Thoughtful man, doesn’t let his ego get in the way, seems to understand young players today. The search should be wide, but we need someone who understands American players and culture, not just a big name…. and yes, keep Jesse away from this team, please!!!