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The U.S. men's national team will enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup in an unusual situation—they're being guided by a foreign-born coach.
Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT's head coach, is originally from Argentina and will steer the team on home turf this summer, becoming the first non-American manager since Germany's Jürgen Klinsmann helmed the Stars and Stripes at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Born in Murphy, Argentina, Pochettino is widely considered one of the most respected coaches in world football, and his signing by the USMNT in 2024 ahead of their 2026 World Cup campaign was seen as a major achievement. Previously, he managed the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar at French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain. He also built his reputation at several elite clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Chelsea in the Premier League and Espanyol in La Liga, before accepting his first international head coaching role with the USMNT.
His hiring came at a pivotal moment for the USMNT. At the 2022 World Cup, the Stars and Stripes were eliminated by the Netherlands 3–1 in the round of 16. The team then suffered a disappointing group stage exit at the U.S.-hosted 2024 Copa América—a tournament featuring the top South American, North American and Central American sides—which ultimately brought an end to Gregg Berhalter's second stint as manager.
Following those setbacks, the expectation is that a seasoned coach like Pochettino can guide the developing squad to significant success this summer, which could prove to be a defining moment for the sport across the United States.
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Why Isn't the USMNT Coach a U.S. Citizen?
Unlike players, who must hold passports from the nation they represent in international soccer, coaches and support staff are not bound by the same rules. Pochettino is the 19th USMNT manager in history to come from outside the United States and will be the second non-U.S. citizen to coach the team at a home World Cup, following Serbia's (neé Yugoslavia) Bora Milutinović, who led the side at the 1994 tournament.
Other nations will also feature foreign-born coaches, including co-hosts Canada, managed by Wisconsin-native Jesse Marsch, and England, who are led by Germany's Thomas Tuchel.
What is Mauricio Pochettino's Record with the USMNT?
The USMNT has produced mixed results across the first 25 matches under Pochettino, posting a record of 14-9-2 since his debut on Oct. 12, 2024—a 2–0 victory over Panama. In competitive fixtures, the team has struggled considerably, falling to both Panama and Canada to finish fourth in the 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League and also failing to qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Those experiences, however, have been valuable. He tested more than 80 players across various formations in the lead-up to the World Cup before finalizing his strongest 26-man squad for soccer's biggest stage.
Did Mauricio Pochettino Play in a World Cup?
Prior to his coaching career, Pochettino played as a center back for Argentina's Newell's Old Boys and several European clubs, including Espanyol, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux, before hanging up his boots in 2006. During that period, he earned 20 caps for Argentina and competed on the grandest stage at the 1999 Copa América and the 2002 World Cup.
How Well Does Pochettino Think the USMNT Can Do?
Pochettino grabbed attention early in 2025 when he challenged his players with the question, "Why not us?" regarding their World Cup ambitions. While the USMNT faces a steep climb to claim its first World Cup trophy, there is genuine belief that the squad's talent could fuel a lengthy run in the tournament.
Although Pochettino hasn't spelled out exactly what that run might look like—and every competitor at a World Cup dreams of lifting the trophy—reaching the quarterfinals would already be a remarkable achievement. Since their semifinal appearance at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, the USMNT has only advanced to the quarterfinal stage once, back in 2002.
"It's not that we need to perform now, it's that we need to perform always," Pochettino said in March during the final pre-tournament camp. "Every time we are in the national team camp, we need to perform... Why not us? If I don't believe in you, it's difficult, and if we don't believe in you, it's difficult to compete. Why not us?"