Report: Mauricio Pochettino agrees to become new U.S. Men's National Team soccer head coach

Former Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly agreed to become the new U.S. Men’s National Team soccer head coach this week, according to ESPN‘s sources. The outlet is reporting that Pochettino has accepted the job following Team USA’s early exit from the Paris Olympics.

The U.S. national team opted to part ways with former head coach Gregg Berhalter following an early exit from Copa America last month. Matt Crocker, the USSF technical director, went to work to find Berhalter’s successor who could carry the team through to the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will host along with Mexico and Canada.

Before coaching Chelsea for one season, Pochettino previously coached for Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain. He was rumored to be in the mix to take over the England national side following Gareth Southgate’s exit. However, the U.S. has pulled off a stunning coup to land him. As a player, Pochettino had a successful career that included an appearance for his home nation in the 2002 World Cup with Argentina.

According to ESPN, the new head coach will likely be in position to lead the USMNT by the time they play their game against Canada in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 7.

Berhalter out, Pochettino in for USMNT

The USMNT enjoyed some brief success at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, winning one group stage game and drawing the other two to advance under Gregg Berhalter.

But the knockout stage proved unfavorable, with a matchup against the Netherlands culminating in a 3-1 defeat and an exit from the tournament. That the USMNT failed to leave the group stage in the Copa America, the next major tournament, only two years later, soured the relationship between US Soccer and Berhalter.

In all, Berhalter amassed a record of 44-15-13 with the USMNT. Relative to his predecessors, it was a good enough mark on paper, but the criticism stemmed from his lack of major tournament success.

USWNT wins gold in Paris

For the first time since 2012, the United States women’s soccer team brought home the gold from the summer games. Team USA defeated Brazil in the gold medal match of the Paris Olympics last week, earning a 1-0 victory.

The lone goal in the match was scored by Mallory Swanson in the 57th minute. The second-half goal capped an incredible performance by Swanson in Paris.

The gold medal is the fifth for the United States in total in women’s soccer. In addition to the 2012 Olympics, Team USA also won the gold in 1996, 2004 and 2008.