Manchester United have confirmed that Mauricio Pochettino will become their manager from November 18, BBC Sport reported. The Argentine, who has been coach of the U.S. men's national team since September 2024, was in tears at a news conference as he thanked US Soccer and called the move "one of the most difficult decisions in my career." He said contact from United started on Sunday afternoon and that he and his staff were "very transparent" with the federation. An agreement was reached this week, after which he told the players, who he said were "very supportive." US Soccer and United agreed that he would still take the team's next two games.

The timing is abrupt. Pochettino signed a new four-year deal with US Soccer only three months ago, an extension that, NPR reported, was meant to take him through the 2030 World Cup. "I never said I wanted to go back but they know there aren't too many opportunities that happen in your career like Manchester United. When it arrives, it's difficult to turn down," he told reporters, according to BBC Sport. He said the extension "was a commitment for the federation, just in case." Asked if he was satisfied with what he had achieved, he said: "Satisfaction is difficult in this business. You always want more." He added that it was "much better to talk now about US Soccer" than about the United job, and that "the situation is not ideal. But in life, football moves quickly."

His U.S. record is the backdrop to the departure. Pochettino took over an ailing side in 2024, NPR reported, and was the highest-profile manager the federation had hired. At the 2026 World Cup the United States finished first in its group, won its first knockout-round game since 2002, and reached the round of 16. His three wins were the most at any World Cup by a USMNT coach. NPR said he will lead the team for two more games against Haiti before leaving. Middlesbrough midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, whose father, Gregg, was sacked as U.S. coach two months before Pochettino was hired, told the media on Thursday that the Argentine had "created a great foundation." "Even though he's an Argentinian coach, he made us even more proud to be American," Berhalter said. Pochettino handed him his debut; the 25-year-old has 22 caps and played all five World Cup matches last summer, BBC Sport reported.

Pochettino, a former Argentina defender who played at the 2002 World Cup, has previously managed Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain. He said his staff were "brave enough to go ahead" with the final U.S. matches and that "all of the games are important." He thanked players and staff for "the last two years" and for "sharing an amazing project." The verified appointment is straightforward: United have named him, the start date is November 18, and he will finish two more games with the United States first. The tears at the lectern were about leaving a job he had just agreed to keep.