Pochettino Departs USMNT for Man Utd: Coaching Gamble Ends

Mauricio Pochettino's tenure as the head coach of the U.S. men's national team officially ended on Friday, November 13, 2026, with his move to manage Manchester United. His 26-month experiment with the USMNT is subject to varied interpretation.

Upon taking charge in September 2024, Pochettino inherited a team at a low point following a disappointing Copa América. He successfully rebuilt the team's culture, emphasizing commitment and developing young talent such as Matt Freese and Malik Tillman. His high-pressing tactical system leveraged the midfield strengths of Tillman, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie.

The team showed flashes of brilliance, impressing in early World Cup matches against Paraguay and Australia. However, their campaign concluded in the round of 16 against Belgium, where they were outclassed. Pochettino's overall performance has been graded a C-plus, with positives like renewed fan enthusiasm balanced by unmet expectations.

Despite the team not surpassing previous World Cup results, U.S. Soccer views Pochettino's tenure as valuable, contributing to increased sponsor interest. However, his departure leaves projects unfinished, raising questions about what more he could have achieved with more time. Pochettino's focus on high-profile opportunities suggests a pattern that U.S. Soccer may seek to avoid in future coaching hires.

Looking ahead, U.S. Soccer faces a decision in selecting Pochettino's successor: prioritize candidates for whom the USMNT is a dream job, like Steve Cherundolo or B.J. Callaghan, or a high-profile manager viewing it as another career step. With 43 months until the 2030 World Cup, the focus will be on finding a coach with a long-term vision.