Mauricio Pochettino accepted an offer to manage Manchester United, abandoning plans to lead the United States men’s national team through the FIFA World Cup in 2030, es.themirror.com reported on Nov. 13, 2026.
The sudden departure leaves the United States Soccer Federation searching for a new head coach just months after extending Pochettino’s contract for four years following the 2026 tournament. The Argentine manager finalized his exit after Manchester United sacked Michael Carrick following a dismal start to the Premier League season.
Pochettino took charge of the American squad in 2024 as a marquee hire for the home World Cup, where the team reached the round of 16 before a 4-1 elimination defeat against Belgium. During the recent international window, while hosting players for CONCACAF Nations League fixtures against Haiti, club officials approached the coach with an offer to return to European club football.
“The opportunity to represent the shield of the United States was one of the greatest honors of my career,” Pochettino said, according to es.themirror.com.
“We are very grateful to the players for their commitment, to the fans for their faith and to the Federation for always supporting our staff and creating opportunities to influence soccer culture in this great country,” he told es.themirror.com.
Premier League return timeline
Manchester United moved swiftly for Pochettino after dismissing Carrick, who had guided the club to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification last season. Despite that domestic success, a disastrous start to the new campaign prompted club leadership to make a change.
Pochettino previously established his managerial reputation in England with spells at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, guiding Tottenham to a Champions League final and a Premier League title challenge during a five-year tenure. Spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea followed before his appointment with the American national team.
Earlier speculation had linked the Argentine coach with a return to Tottenham, but those rumors quieted when Tottenham hired Roberto De Zerbi. Pochettino subsequently signed a four-year extension with the United States federation, appearing to secure his international future until club officials in Manchester made their approach.
Federal search for successors
Federation leaders have reportedly targeted Pep Guardiola as an exceptional candidate, though the former Manchester City manager has remained out of the spotlight since leaving his previous post and has not commented on the vacancy.
“There is extraordinary talent in the American team, from the youth categories to the senior team, and that is one of the reasons we have so much faith in the future of American soccer,” Pochettino said, es.themirror.com reported.
“They will always have a special place in our hearts and we will support the teams every time they take the field,” he told es.themirror.com.
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