Mauricio Pochettino’s imminent appointment as the new head coach of the U.S. men’s national team has raised plenty of eyebrows. With the United States set to host the 2026 World Cup, the nation is buzzing with cautious optimism, especially after their dismal exit from the group stages of the Copa America—a failure that cost Gregg Berhalter his job.
In this essay, we’ll take a measured look at whether Pochettino’s arrival truly bodes well for the U.S.’s chances on the grandest stage of all.
Pochettino's rise and fall
Pochettino’s managerial career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Often tipped as one of football’s next great tacticians, he has, however, struggled to fulfil that lofty promise. The Argentine first caught the Premier League’s attention at Southampton, but it was his tenure at Tottenham Hotspur that really put him on the map. Under Pochettino, Spurs played some of the most exciting, attacking football in England, coming close to glory with a second-place league finish and a Champions League final. But, as is so often the case with Spurs, silverware eluded them, and after five years, Pochettino was shown the door, replaced by the ever-divisive José Mourinho.
His next stop was the star-studded Paris Saint-Germain, where the weight of expectation was as big as the egos of the stars like Messi, Mbappe and Neymar. Despite winning Ligue 1, Pochettino’s team fell short in the Champions League, leading to his departure after just one season.
The Argentine’s next challenge was Chelsea, where he replaced Frank Lampard, who had stepped in for the beleaguered Graham Potter. Pochettino’s reputation afforded him prestige, but his time at Stamford Bridge was another short-lived chapter. Struggling with a bloated squad and a toxic team environment, his Chelsea side never found their rhythm, and he was dismissed after just one season. The debacle on the pitch, including public arguments over who should take penalties, only added to the growing sentiment that Pochettino’s best days might be behind him.
The U.S. Team: A work in progress
The U.S. men’s national team is, to put it mildly, not in the best shape. Their Copa America campaign was nothing short of humiliating, and the squad lacks genuine star power. Christian Pulisic, now at AC Milan, is the team’s de facto leader, while Borussia Dortmund’s Gio Reyna and Monaco’s Folarin Balogun offer some promise. Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams also adds a bit of steel to the midfield. However, this is hardly a golden generation, and Pochettino will have his work cut out for him.
As the host nation, expectations will be sky-high for the 2026 World Cup. Traditionally, host nations are expected to at least reach the knockout stages, and while this U.S. team might not be world-beaters, that target seems achievable.
Is Pochettino the right man for the job?
Let’s cut to the chase—I don’t think Pochettino is the right appointment. Managing at the international level is a different beast altogether, arguably more challenging than club management. Pochettino has yet to truly excel at the club level, so it’s difficult to see how he will transition successfully to the demands of a national team, especially one with the weight of a home World Cup on its shoulders.
What the U.S. needed was an elite-level coach, someone with the gravitas and proven track record at the highest level—think Jürgen Klopp, José Mourinho, or Carlo Ancelotti. These are managers with the aura and pedigree required to make an impact on the world stage. Granted, persuading one of these giants to switch from club to international management would have been a tall order, but with Klopp currently out of the club game and Mourinho plying his trade outside Europe’s top four leagues, it might not have been impossible.
The U.S. Soccer Federation is taking a gamble on Pochettino. While he may be the most prestigious manager they’ve ever appointed—Jürgen Klinsmann aside—he still has much to prove.
This could be Pochettino's chance to silence the critics, but more likely, the bright lights of a home World Cup may prove too much for him to handle. Only time will tell.
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