Everything you need to know about Mauricio Pochettino ahead of his first USMNT press conference

Today marks a new era for soccer in the United States, one that could prove transformative as the nation looks ahead to the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Admittedly, Friday 13th is an inauspicious date for such a moment, but there is reason to be optimistic for fans of USMNT.

On Friday, Mauricio Pochettino will be officially unveiled as the new head coach of the national team. Following the stale performance at the summer’s Copa América and a sense that this talented squad is stagnating, it is hoped that Pochettino can bring winds of change to the national team.

“The decision to join US Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on,” Pochettino said when his appointment was confirmed. “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.”

Yet the USMNT situation is far from ideal. Recent failures have dulled supporter enthusiasm for the national team and, with no World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, Pochettino has limited opportunity to impart his will on the players.

However, the Argentine can also call upon one of the most talented generations of US players of all time and can count on a genuine passion for soccer across the country. Now, with a world class head coach at the helm, could this be a turning point for USMNT?

Which teams has Mauricio Pochettino coached?

The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino is, without question, the most ambitious coaching hire in USMNT history. Jürgen Klinsmann may have arrived with greater cachet from his playing career, but Pochettino’s coaching CV is far more impressive than the German’s.

Pochettino’s playing career saw him feature for Newell’s Old Boys, Espanyol, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux, representing Argentina national team on 20 occasions. However it is as a manager that he has really made his name at the elite level.

He began with Espanyol before making the move to Southampton in the Premier League. Positive work there saw him handed the Tottenham Hotspur job, where he transformed the team into title challengers and took them to the final of the Champions League.

After that he spent an 18-month stint with Paris Saint-Germain, winning the French league title and the Coupe de France. At the expiration of his PSG contract he joined Chelsea for the 2023/24 campaign, helping to guide the club through a period of great instability. After agreeing to part ways with Chelsea earlier this summer, Pochettino was free to take the USMNT job.

What did Christian Pulisic say about Mauricio Pochettino?

For any coach, particularly one preparing to work in a new country, ensuring buy-in from players is crucial. That shouldn’t be a problem for Pochettino, whose elite level coaching experience should ensure that team is eager to work with him.

Pochettino briefly crossed paths with Christian Pulisic in the summer of 2023, during his time at Chelsea. Within two months of Pochettino’s arrival Pulisic was offloaded to AC Milan, collateral damage in Chelsea’s scattergun approach in the transfer market. Nevertheless, Pulisic holds no grudge and is counting on Pochettino to be a transformative presence.

“Hopefully, a culture that is willing to fight, that is willing to take risks, you know, win,” Pulisic explained, when asked what he hoped the new man would bring.

“There are a lot of things that need to change, just the mentality and the culture of the group. I think we have the quality, but hopefully that’s the first thing he’s going to want to change.”

How to watch Mauricio Pochettino’s first press conference as USMNT boss

Even after months of speculation, confirmation of Pochettino’s appointment earlier this week had a real impact on the USMNT support. With less than two years to go until the 2026 World Cup there’s a sense that this move has to pay off. If Mauricio Pochettino can’t, who can?

Those are the stakes for the national team and it is in that context that Pochettino will officially be unveiled to the world’s press on Friday.

Mauricio Pochettino’s first press conference as USMNT head coach will be held at New York City’s Hudson Yards on Friday, September 13. It’s scheduled to start at 11am (ET) with Pochettino expected to appear alongside US Soccer technical director Matt Crocker.

The event will be broadcast live on the US Soccer website and the US Soccer YouTube channel. More news on Mauricio Pochettino’s introductory press conference can also be found right here on AS USA, along with continued coverage of USMNT as the new man prepares to lead the team for the first time next month.