one step away from signing with the United States team ahead of the 2026 World Cup

After hosting the 2024 Copa América, USA decided to make some adjustments for the World Cup 2026where it will be headquarters. From now on, the project for the next World Cup will be led by Mauricio Pochettinowho has everything agreed to be the new coach. The American soccer team needed to further deepen its ambition to compete in the best way in the competition it will organize.

The former technical director of Paris Saint-Germain He will replace Gregg Berhalter, who was in charge of the national team until the last continental tournament. After being eliminated in the group stage behind Uruguay and Panama, the three-time Gold Cup champion was displaced from his position. The American board wanted to take a leap in the hierarchy and went in search of the Argentine.

This new personal challenge It will be Mauricio’s first experience as a coach at the national team levelsince until now he had only managed clubs. However, from North America they trusted the man born in Murphy, in the province of Santa Fe and decided that he would be the leader of the American dream in the World Cup that will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

In favor of the Santa Fe coach 52 yearsthe adaptation will be easy because you will be surrounded by old acquaintances. Matt Crockerthe current sports director of US Soccer, was his teammate during the time they directed Southampton. While Pochettino was in charge of the professional team, Crocker was technical director at the southern British club’s academy.

The arrival of ‘Poch’ can mean a huge change in the country’s football history. For several years now, the United States has been strongly betting on prioritizing its league, in search of sporting growth. The objective is clear: get past the quarterfinals which he achieved in Korea-Japan 2002. Then he was eliminated in the round of 16 in 2010, 2014 and 2022.

The former footballer began to take his steps as technical director at the beginning of 2009when he arrived at Espanyol. The Catalan team was in relegation positions but with the help of Pochettino they were able to avoid the bottom zone of the Spanish league and achieved permanence. Then, he continued at the club until November 2012, where he was dismissed from the position due to a poor start to the championship.

In January 2013 he came to the Premier League, to have his experience in Southampton. In his first semester he managed to avoid relegation and earned continuity. In his first full season he led the English team to eighth position and attracted the interest of the most important teams in Europe.

Quickly, Tottenham He moved and signed the Argentine coach. In the 2014/15 season he finished in fifth position, while the following season was even better: he came third. In 2016/17 Pochettino led Spurs to be Premier League runners-upwith a record points history (86). A year later he finished third again in the English league.

His best football year was in the 2018/19 season where he reached the UEFA Champions League finala historic achievement since Tottenham had never made it past the quarterfinals. In the decisive match they lost 2-0 against Liverpool and shortly afterwards Mauricio was fired from his position.

In 2021 he signed with Paris Saint-Germain where he did not take advantage of the opportunity to have Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe. Under his leadership they won: the French League, French Super Cup and French Cup. However, his great debt occurred in the Champions League, where he could not pass the semifinals.

His last and recent step was in Chelsea. After a poor performance in the domestic league, the Blues had the chance to close the season with a Carabao Cup title. In the final they faced Liverpool, where they lost 1-0. After that, Pochettino was dismissed from the London club.