U.S. Soccer, Mauricio Pochettino, Kenneth C. Griffin
11 June 2026
U.S. Soccer’s hiring of Mauricio Pochettino was made possible partly by billionaire and corporate backing, according to The Athletic. Kenneth C. Griffin, Scott Goodwin and commercial partners helped fund a salary package beyond the federation’s normal coaching budget.
The move followed frustration after the USMNT’s Copa America failure and reflected a push to think bigger before a home World Cup. Federation leaders saw Pochettino as a credibility boost for players, fans and American soccer’s wider ambitions.