Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino was named the new head coach of the United States men’s national soccer team on Tuesday, tasked with leading the squad to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) announced.

"Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build united and competitive teams," said Matt Crocker, USSF sporting director.

"The decision to join U.S. Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on," Pochettino said.

"The opportunity to lead the U.S. national team, in front of fans who have as much passion as the players, was something I couldn’t pass up. I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together we are going to build something special," he added.

Pochettino replaces Gregg Berhalter, who managed the U.S. team from 2018 to 2022, and again in 2023 during the most recent Copa América. Berhalter led the U.S. to two Nations League titles (2019-2020 and 2023-2024) and the 2021 Gold Cup.

Pochettino’s challenge will be to revive a team coming off a disappointing Copa América performance last summer, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage despite being the host nation.

During his coaching career, Pochettino won Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the French Super Cup with PSG. He also notably led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, where they lost to Liverpool.