Pochettino to lead USA against Haiti before Manchester United move

Mauricio Pochettino will remain in charge of the United States for two Concacaf Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti before taking over at Manchester United. Speaking on Friday after his departure was announced, the coach said the club and US Soccer had agreed he would complete the current camp. The matches are scheduled for Saturday and Tuesday, according to the Guardian's reporting from Fayetteville, Georgia.

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Pochettino became emotional as he thanked federation officials at US Soccer's national training center and discussed his decision to leave. He described the opportunity at United as one that was hard to refuse, while stressing that his staff remained committed to the two remaining games. He said the players and wider staff had been supportive when he informed them of the situation at a meeting on Thursday.

The negotiations developed rapidly, according to Pochettino's account. He said his group had arrived for the international camp the previous Friday and that contact concerning United began on Sunday afternoon. Pochettino said he had kept US Soccer chief executive JT Batson and the federation informed as talks progressed. The arrangement to keep him in place for the Haiti fixtures was agreed between United and US Soccer.

His departure comes only months after a contract renewal announced in August that was intended to keep him with the US through 2030. That agreement also gave him greater influence over the men's programme across different levels. Pochettino said his commitment when signing the extension had been genuine and that he had not anticipated such a swift change in circumstances.

The Guardian reported that United paid approximately $10 million for Pochettino's services. Batson, who appeared alongside US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, said those funds could support coaching appointments, youth national teams and coach education. The report also noted that donor Ken Griffin had subsidised a substantial part of Pochettino's salary. Whether comparable support would be available for his successor remained unclear.

Pochettino led the US to the last 16 at this year's World Cup. Asked about his legacy, he focused on relationships and contributing his football knowledge to the federation rather than on being remembered permanently. Before his attention shifts fully to United, his final responsibility with the national team remains the two-match tie against Haiti.