World Cup 2026: Meet USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino of the United States talks to the media during a USMNT press conference at the Westin Hotel on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
The United States is heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup hoping for its first knockout-stage victory since 2002.
With the tournament on home soil drawing closer, the spotlight is firmly on Mauricio Pochettino, the highly respected Argentine manager tasked with leading Team USA into one of the most important tournaments in the nation’s soccer history.
Who is Mauricio Pochettino?
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Pochettino was appointed head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team in August 2024 with two years to prepare the team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted in the United States.
He was hired in the fall of 2024 after the U.S. was eliminated in the Copa America group stage, and told players they can win the title.
"Why not us?" he said during a March training camp. "We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream."
Pochettino, 52, brings a wealth of experience at the highest levels of club soccer, having coached Tottenham Spur and Chelsea in the English Premier League as well as French Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain. In 2019, he led Spurs to the UEFA Champions League Final.
During his career he has also coached and mentored some of the top players in the world, including Lionel Messi, KylianMbappé, Neymar Jr. and Harry Kane.
A two-time winner of the Copa del Rey in Spain as a player, he earned 20 caps for the Argentina National Team including appearances in all three of its matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup under then head-coach Marcelo Bielsa.
He began his coaching career at Espanyol in January 2009, where he spent three seasons before earning his first job in the English Premier League in January 2013 with Southampton.
Pochettino was appointed head coach of PSG in January of 2021, a club where he made 70 appearances as a player from 2001-03. They reached the semifinal of the Champions League that season and won the Coupe de France, finishing only one point behind Lille in the race for the league championship. The following year PSG succeeded in winning the Ligue 1 title.
He returned to the Premier League with Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 season, improving on its 12th-place finish the year prior by moving up to sixth by the end of the campaign while reaching the EFL Cup final and the FA Cup semifinal.
Pochettino and his wife have two sons, Sebastian and Maurizi.
Team USA schedule
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The American team benefits from being seeded as a co-host in the expanded tournament, which could keep them from playing an elite opponent until the round of 16.
"It would be everything to win, and especially to do it in your home, in front of your friends, your families, the people that have supported you throughout your whole career that are closest to you," midfielder Weston McKennie told The Associated Press.
The U.S. hopes to advance far in the tournament and show it is making progress in a sport that trails the NFL, MLB and NBA in popularity at home. The Americans are 1-7 in knockout World Cup matches, the only win over regional rival Mexico in 2002.
Since reaching the semifinals of the first World Cup in 1930, the furthest the U.S. has advanced was the 2002 quarterfinals. While it has lost eight straight matches to European opponents since 2022, getting outscored 22-6, the Americans have a high level of confidence.
As of May 7, 2026, the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team is set to compete in the FIFA World Cup on:
- June 12, 2026: USA vs. Paraguay (Los Angeles Stadium)
- June 19, 2026: USA vs. Australia (Seattle Stadium)
- June 25, 2026: USA vs. Türkiye (Los Angeles Stadium)
When is the World Cup?
The 2026 Fifa World Cup begins June 11 and ends on July 19.
How to watch
Outside of watching the championship on live TV, there are several options audiences can choose from to enjoy the soccer matches.
One free option is through FIFA+ and select YouTube streams. It will also be available for free on Australia’s SBS On Demand.
Other paid options include:
The Source: The information for this story was provided by U.S. Soccer. This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed. This story was reported from Los Angeles.