Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the U.S. men’s national team to become the manager of Manchester United, with an official announcement expected on Friday.
The move comes less than three months after the Argentine coach signed a four-year contract extension with the USSF, according to reports from the New York Post and Yahoo Sports.
The deal involves a release clause in his USSF contract reported to be approximately $10 million, Yahoo Sports noted. Manchester United identified the 54-year-old Argentine as their candidate to replace Michael Carrick, who was fired.
The decision to remove Carrick followed a stretch that left the 20-time English champion sitting in 18th place, occupying a spot in the Premier League relegation zone, as reported by El Periódico. United’s hierarchy had previously assumed Pochettino was out of reach, but he emerged as the sole candidate once his availability became known.
We can confirm Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach.
The move marks the latest in a long history of managerial changes for the club.
According to sources, the decision to sack Carrick was finalized during a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday involving minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox. Carrick, who had been in the role for six months, was informed of his fate on Thursday. Pochettino is expected to make his debut as Manchester United manager on Nov. 22 against Liverpool.
Player reactions to the transition
USMNT players expressed disappointment regarding the sudden nature of the departure during media availability on Thursday ahead of their Nations League quarterfinal match against Haiti.
“If I had a vote, I would like to keep things the way they are,” Balogun said. “I think things have been working well; we have a clear sense of identity, we have a clear playing style, and whenever you have a top coach, you’d want him to stay, as it’s a no-brainer, so I think for us it’s no different.”
Balogun credited the manager with raising the professional standards within the team, noting that the intensity of training and the approach to matches had fundamentally changed the players’ mindset. He emphasized that the squad must now take ownership of their development regardless of who leads the team.
Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, who earned his international debut under Pochettino in 2025 and played in every match during the 2026 World Cup, also reflected on the coach’s influence.
“Regardless if he’s the coach, not the coach, he’s meant so much to me, and he’s helped me develop as a player and as a person,” Berhalter said. He added that the foundation laid by the Argentine provides a standard the players must now maintain themselves.
The transition arrives as the USMNT looks toward the 2030 World Cup cycle. Pochettino had recently introduced a dozen young players, including Cavan Sullivan, Adri Mehmeti, Matias Albert, Neil Pierre, and Julian Hall, during the September-October window to build for the long term.
Search for a successor
The USSF is expected to initiate a search for a replacement, though they are not in a rush as the team will not play again with the full squad until late March. While names such as B.J. Callaghan, Steve Cherundolo, and Pellegrino Matarazzo have been mentioned as potential candidates, the USMNT program has set its sights on Pep Guardiola.
“Mauricio has taken me under his wing in the most tremendous way possible,” Sullivan said Tuesday.
Guardiola, who previously lived in New York City during a sabbatical, is widely considered one of the greatest managers in the history of the sport. While he has shown little recent interest in returning to management after turning down the Italy job earlier this year, he has long been intrigued by the prospect of working in America.
As the federation manages the coaching vacancy, the USMNT remains focused on their immediate competitive goals.
“We’re focused on going against Haiti twice; they’re a good team.” You saw at the World Cup, they surprised people, so that’s our main focus, and I think the group is ready to play these games, Berhalter said.
Earlier coverage: Man United Sacks Michael Carrick, Pochettino Close to Appointment