The Phantom Coach? Pochettino Wants to Lead USMNT While Living in Europe

It’s been reported that Mauricio Pochettino will soon be announced as the new head coach of the USMNT. But, unlike what you’d expect from a national team coach, he might continue living in Europe. Yeah, you read that right: the guy potentially leading the U.S. on home soil in the 2026 World Cup might be doing it from across the ocean. Wild, right?

But it’s not just about Pochettino’s personal comfort. Sure, he’s used to the European scene, but the choice to stay outside the U.S., if confirmed, goes beyond that. He’s got his reasons, and to be fair, they make some sense. The real question, though, is whether this physical distance will be a burden or a smart strategy for the team.

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The idea of a coach living on another continent while running a national team is, to say the least, unconventional. A few years back, it would’ve been unthinkable. Coaches were expected to move to the country they were representing, to breathe the air of the same fields their players trained on. But times change, as do the rules of the game—or rather, the rules set by those running the game. Now, it seems modernity allows a national team coach to be farther from home than his rivals.

Pochettino’s move draws parallels to Lionel Scaloni’s decision. Scaloni stayed in Spain but led Argentina to a World Cup victory. It’s a pretty strong argument for Pochettino staying in Europe. After all, most of the U.S. squad plays in European clubs. And who better to keep a close eye on them than a coach who’s just a short flight away from where they’re dazzling week in, week out? It’s practical, almost logical—if not a little... curious.

We’re talking about a country that’s hosting the next World Cup, and historically, U.S. coaches have been based on home soil. We’ve seen Gregg Berhalter working in Chicago, eyes locked on growing the game stateside. Emma Hayes, the new head coach of the U.S. Women’s team, is ready to leave London for Atlanta to be closer to the heart of U.S. Soccer. And then there’s Pochettino, coming in with a bold, almost shadowy plan: coaching from afar, almost like a ghost, guiding the team without being in the thick of it every day. It’s new, it’s daring, but will it work?

It’s like a captain steering a ship from miles away. Sure, he can see the waves, forecast the storms, and guide his crew—but he’s not there to feel the wind on his face or to be in the middle of the action when the seas get rough.

For the U.S. players in Europe, having a coach like Pochettino nearby might be a blessing. They’ll be under the sharp gaze of a coach who knows the European game like the back of his hand. But what about the players still in MLS? How does Pochettino plan to keep tabs on them from across the pond?

And then there’s the media. How’s he going to handle the local press, the pressure, and the expectations of a country hungry to make history on home turf at the World Cup? Is Pochettino more interested in staying close to European soccer than in helping the sport grow within the U.S. itself? It’s almost as if the U.S. is admitting it needs Europe’s influence to truly succeed in soccer. For some, that might seem like a weakness; for others, it could be a clever move.

Meanwhile, U.S. Soccer seems open to this new approach. The former sporting director, Earnie Stewart, insisted that coaches live and work in the U.S. But now, with Matt Crocker in charge, that policy seems to be shifting.

Of course, in the end, results are what really matter. If Pochettino can lead the U.S. to a historic run in the 2026 World Cup, no one’s going to care whether he was sipping coffee in Barcelona or having a glass of wine in London while doing it. But if things go south... well, it won’t be long before his decision to stay in Europe is seen as a mistake.