By OkayGoal
Mauricio Pochettino is bidding farewell to the U.S. Men’s National Team and heading back to the English Premier League.
Pochettino will step down as USMNT head coach at the conclusion of the current international window before joining Manchester United as the club’s new manager, both parties announced Friday. Pochettino will coach the USMNT in its upcoming CONCACAF Nations League matches against Haiti on November 14 and 17 as his final duties for U.S. Soccer.
The 54-year-old was three months into a new, four-year contract with U.S. Soccer, but instead will embark on a new challenge at Old Trafford. Manchester United recently fired Michael Carrick as manager and sit 18th in the 20-club EPL standings.
Former USMNT player and LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo will lead the USMNT’s previously scheduled December camp, which will feature a primarily MLS-based roster. Cherundolo was appointed as head coach for the USMNT U-23 roster ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“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 took over as USMNT head coach back in September 2024 and has registered a 21-12-2 record to date across all competitions. He led the USMNT to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final and a Round of 16 finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
Under Pochettino’s leadership, the USMNT finished first in its World Cup group and earned its first knockout-round victory since 2002. Pochettino recorded the most World Cup wins of any head coach in USMNT history last summer as the USMNT finished with three (two group stage, one knockout phase).
“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.
“With the great combination of veterans, fantastic young talent and a world-class facility, we are confident in the future of this program,” Batson added. “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.”
A total of 75 players earned at least one cap during Pochettino’s time as USMNT head coach and 11 players under the age of 21-years-old made their senior debuts during the September-October window.
Two players; Reed Baker-Whiting and Santiago Castãneda, could still make their debuts this window after being included for the first time.
“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 which includes Emma Hayes and Oguchi Onyewu, will lead the search for the next USMNT head coach. The Federation will consider candidates from a broad range of backgrounds.
Pochettino previously managed at Spanish club Espanyol, English sides Southampton, Tottenham, and Chelsea, and French giants Paris Saint-Germain prior to his move to the United States.