Who is USA’s soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino? Meet the USMNT manager for 2026 World Cup

If the U.S. men's national team's Group D opener against Paraguay was any indicator, the side is approaching new heights under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The Americans put four past their foe, surging to the top of the group as the strikes set off fireworks in the stands. It was quite the difference from the U.S.'s last World Cup fixture — a cagey joust with the Netherlands that ended with a 3-1 defeat.

The USMNT looks a different prospect this time around. Its high-profile manager, Mauricio Pochettino, might help explain why.

With that, here's what you need to know about Pochettino, the man tasked with taking the USMNT to new heights during the 2026 World Cup.

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Who is USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino?

An Argentine national who previously starred for Espanyol and Paris Saint-Germain as a player, Pochettino was named the manager of the USMNT in Sept. 2024, taking the reins of the side following Gregg Berhalter’s ouster.

Pochettino brings pedigree to the United States’ ranks, having previously served as the manager of European powerhouses Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Pochettino’s trophy cabinet is noticeably barren given his resume — he has only claimed one league title, one domestic cup and one domestic super cup, all achieved during his spell at PSG. Nevertheless, he is widely regarded as one of the best tacticians of his generation.

Here's why:

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Mauricio Pochettino tactics and style of play

Pochettino earned his coaching stripes at Espanyol, taking charge of his former club a few years after ending his playing career. He performed admirably in the position, garnering praise even as Espanyol flirted with ruin near at the bottom end of the league table.

Pochettino left Espanyol by mutual consent in Nov. 2012. By Jan. 2013, he was at Southampton. The Premier League upstarts had inquired about his services after sacking Nigel Adkins. Pochettino helped Saints avoid the drop in his first season in charge. The following year, he led Southampton to eighth, inviting further interest from a number of sides — namely Tottenham Hotspur.

It was at Spurs that Pochettino came into his own as a manager. Tottenham was a side awash with resources compared to the vast majority of its counterparts. And yet, the North London-based side wasn't quite able to compete with England's heavyweights.

That is, until Pochettino came in. The Argentina taskmaster embraced attacking play, instructing his fullbacks — initially Danny Rose and Kyle Walker — to bomb forward, creating numerical advantages both on the flank and in the center of the park. Whether you think of them as fullbacks or wingbacks, Pochettino made the advancing outside defender central to his tactical setup. That could prove an appealing prospect for the United States, who have two swashbuckling talents operating on the flanks in Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest.

Under Pochettino, Tottenham's attacks were defined by their swift nature. A gifted goal-scorer, Harry Kane became one of the world's most versatile No. 9s under Pochettino's tutelage, dropping deep to open up space for speedy attackers like Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli.

Pochettino added some new wrinkles to his tactical ideology when he took over PSG, often dovetailing between a 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and — on occasion – the 4-4-2. The system largely aimed to create the same sort of transitions that came to define Tottenham's success, with overlapping fullbacks darting down the sideline to create space for Kylian Mbappe and Neymar on the inside.

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The ideal Pochettino team is one that sends waves of pressure on opposition sides out of possession. He became renowned for his high press at Tottenham, although he would occasionally venture away from the strategy in favor of a mid-block. Pochettino used the alteration to great effect during Tottenham's run to the Champions League final in 2018-19.

Pochettino showed an openness to changing approach with PSG. He appeared to prefer the high press, although personnel — neither Mbappe, Neymar nor Lionel Messi are particularly adept at pressing — necessitated that PSG's midfield bring a sort of hybrid press to its opposition.

All of that is to say, Pochettino has his tactical principles: he prefers attacking soccer, instructing his fullbacks to race forward to create space for his wingers, who play more like inside forwards. He likes a high press, although he is willing to spurn the structure if he feels it doesn't fit his personnel.

Mauricio Pochettino salary, contract with USMNT

In 2024, Pochettino inked a two-year deal to become the USMNT's head coach. The contract runs through the 2026 World Cup, expiring upon the conclusion of the tournament.

Reports citing U.S. Soccer's tax filings indicate that the 54-year-old earns about $6 million a year in base salary. Per Salary Leaks, that makes him the third-highest-paid international men's coach, trailing England's Thomas Tuchel and Brazil's Carlo Ancelotti.

Pochettino hasn't revealed publicly whether he would continue to helm the USMNT after the 2026 World Cup. He is widely expected to leave the team in search of a club position when the tournament concludes, however.

Mauricio Pochettino record as coach

Pochettino flaunts a career 331-146-200 mark as a manager, good for a 48.89% win rate. In terms of win percentage, he was most successful at PSG — an unsurprising revelation given the recent success.

Here's a breakdown of Pochettino's record at each 

Mauricio Pochettino playing career

Pochettino was an undersized, yet combative center back who got his start at Newell's Old Boys, the same club where Lionel Messi emerged from. An academy product who was scouted by future manager Marcelo Bielsa, Pochettino made 153 appearances for his boyhood club before moving to Catalan side Espanyol in 1994.

The defender shined in Barcelona, playing more than 300 times for the club across two different stints. He was forced to join PSG after six seasons with Espanyol, only leaving the Spanish side due to financial constraints. He re-joined Espanyol on loan in 2004 before making the switch permanent after a successful campaign.

In addition to his exploits at club level, Pochettino was also a full Argentina international. He made 20 appearances for the Albiceleste, scoring one goal. Pochettino was named to Argentina's 1999 Copa America and 2002 World Cup squads, both helmed by his mentor, Bielsa.

Mauricio Pochettino trophies won

As a player:

• Primera Division: 1991 (Newell's Old Boys)
• Clausura: 1992 (Newell's Old Boys)
• Copa del Rey: 2000, 2006 (Espanyol)
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001 (Paris Saint-Germain)

As a head coach:

• Ligue 1: 2022 (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Coupe de France: 2021 (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Trophee des Champions: 2020 (Paris Saint-Germain)

Mauricio Pochettino wife, family

Pochettino isn't the only soccer-crazed figure in his family. His sons, Sebastiano and Maurizio, also took to the beautiful game, with the former lending his services as part of his father's fitness staff with the USMNT. The latter, meanwhile, plays professionally in Andorra, having most recently turned out for Inter Club d'Escalades.

Pochettino is married to fellow Argentine Karina Grippaldi. She also holds Italian citizenship through descent. The two first started dating in the early 1990s, marrying in 1994. She has largely strayed from the public spotlight during Pochettino's career, although she is believed to have worked as a singer and songwriter.