Mauricio Pochettino departs as USMNT head coach to join Manchester United

ATLANTA – U.S. Soccer announced that 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. Pochettino and his staff will coach the USMNT in its upcoming matches against Haiti on November 14 and 17.

“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. “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 was named USMNT head coach in September 2024 and compiled a record of 21 wins, 12 losses and two draws across 35 matches. Under his 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 victories during the tournament, Pochettino recorded the most World Cup wins of any head coach in USMNT history.

Beyond the results, Pochettino and his staff helped create stronger alignment across the Men’s National Team program. They established clearer connections between the Youth National Teams and the senior team, expanded opportunities for young players and reinforced the standards and expectations that come with representing the United States. That work is now built into the program and will continue after his departure.

Pochettino also broadened the senior-team player pool, with 75 players earning at least one cap during his tenure. In the most recent window, 11 players under age 21 made their senior-team debuts, including eight teenagers. Across the team’s most recent four-match winning streak, seven of its 12 goals were scored by players who were uncapped when the stretch began, and three joined the list of the youngest goalscorers in USMNT history.

“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.”

Pochettino will remain responsible for all USMNT activities through the conclusion of the current camp. Steve Cherundolo will lead the team’s previously scheduled December camp, which will feature a primarily MLS-based roster. The camp will reflect the increased alignment between the senior and Olympic programs, and there will not be a separate Under-23 camp in December.

“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,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “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.”

Batson and U.S. Soccer Chief Operating Officer Dan Helfrich, alongside the soccer leadership team at U.S. Soccer that includes Emma Hayes and Oguchi Onyewu, will lead the search for the next USMNT head coach, drawing on input from leaders across U.S. Soccer and the global soccer landscape. The Federation will consider candidates from a broad range of backgrounds.

“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.”

Before joining U.S. Soccer, Pochettino managed Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea during more than two decades of coaching in European football.