Following a disappointing exit from the Copa América in 2024, American soccer reached a boiling point. Fans and critics alike argued that the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) had plateaued under Gregg Berhalter and required a world-class tactical mind to maximize their potential for the 2026 World Cup. However, U.S. Soccer faced a steep hurdle: they lacked the historical prestige and the budget to attract a top-tier international coach.

The Financial Gap

Historically, USMNT coaches earned modest salaries compared to European club managers. Gregg Berhalter made approximately $1.7 million annually, and Bob Bradley earned less than $1 million in the late 2000s. To lure a coach with a résumé like Mauricio Pochettino's—having led giants like Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain—the federation knew it needed an unprecedented financial outlay.

U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson revealed that the federation targeted the world's best, including Jürgen Klopp. This ambition caught the eye of Scott Goodwin, co-founder of Diameter Capital. Driven by a desire to see the USMNT elevate its game, Goodwin famously told associates, "I’ll pay," after learning that top coaches might be unaffordable for the federation alone.

A Partnership of Philanthropy

The hiring process became a collaborative effort between sports executives and high-net-worth individuals. When a gap emerged between Pochettino’s salary expectations and the federation's budget, Goodwin reached out to Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel. Griffin, who had already donated $8 million to build mini-pitches in Chicago and Miami, agreed to provide a "philanthropic leadership gift" to secure the Argentine manager.

U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone admitted that without these donors and several commercial partners, the hire "absolutely" would not have happened unless Pochettino had been willing to work for significantly less.

Building from the Ground Up

Pochettino's tenure has not been without its struggles. His first few months were marked by rocky results, including losses to Panama and Canada in early 2025. The coach described his process as destroying old structures to "start to build the house from the ground up."

However, the investment began to yield results in late 2024 and 2025, highlighted by a dominant 5-1 victory over Uruguay. Pochettino has focused on empowering youth and introducing tactical flexibility, drawing inspiration from the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's "Miracle on Ice" to instill a "Why not us?" mentality within the squad.

A New Era of Ambition

The hiring of Pochettino represents a paradigm shift in how U.S. Soccer operates. Moving away from a "Little Engine That Could" mentality, the federation is now embracing a standard of greatness, mirrored by other grand projects like the $250 million national training center funded in part by Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the stakes are high. For the federation and its wealthy benefactors, the goal is not just a tournament win, but a catalyst for the long-term growth of soccer across the United States.