Mauricio Pochettino is working on a deal with the U.S. Soccer Federation to become the new coach, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Pochettino, the former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach, agreed to take over as U.S. national team coach but has not completed the deal, the person said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
Pochettino will replace Gregg Berhalter less than 22 months after the country hosts the 2026 World Cup.
American football leaves
The 52-year-old Argentine will become the first non-American-born coach to coach the national team since Jurgen Klinsmann between 2011 and 2016. Pochettino has coached Espanyol (2009-12) in Spain, as well as Southampton (2013-14), Tottenham (2014-19) and Chelsea (2023-24) in England and Paris Saint-Germain (2021-22) in France.
Matt Crocker, the FA’s sporting director who was responsible for the search, was Southampton’s academy director when Pochettino arrived at the club.
The United States will play four friendlies in the coming months. The first is against Canada on Sept. 7, New Zealand three days later, Panama on Oct. 12 and an unannounced opponent on Oct. 15.
The next competitive matches are the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals home and away in November.
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