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The United States Soccer Federation formally hired Mauricio Pochettino as the next head coach of the U.S. men’s national team on Tuesday.

Pochettino, 52, takes over for Gregg Berhalter, who was fired in July after the USMNT failed to advance out of their group at the 2024 Copa America.

The former manager of Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea comes stateside less than two years before the U.S., Canada and Mexico are set to jointly host the 2026 World Cup.

“The decision to join U.S. Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on,” Pochettino, a native of Argentina, said in a statement. “The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here — those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the U.S. men’s national team, in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players, is something I couldn’t pass up. I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”

Pochettino agreed to take over the USMNT in August following lengthy discussions with USSF sporting director Matt Crocker. The pair previously worked together at Southampton in 2013.

“Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams,” said Crocker. “His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”

Reports Sunday said that the USSF board of directors was planning to meet to approve Pochettino’s two-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but The Athletic reported that the contract contains a material buyout to prevent European clubs from trying to sway Pochettino to leave the post before 2026.

Following a long playing career as a center back with Newell’s Old Boys, Espanyol, PSG and Bordeaux, Pochettino took his first coaching job at Spain’s Espanyol in 2009. He led Tottenham to a runner-up Premier League finish in 2016-17 and the Champions League final in 2018-19, then guided PSG to a Ligue 1 title in 2021-22.

Pochettino and Chelsea mutually parted ways in May.

–Field Level Media