US Soccer, formally the United States Soccer Federation, is the governing body for soccer in the United States. Founded in 1913 and a member of FIFA and CONCACAF, it oversees national teams at all levels and is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.Source: USSF

Who is the US men's national team head coach in 2026?

Mauricio Pochettino. He named a 27-player squad in March 2026 for friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, the last audition window before the May World Cup roster Deadline.Source: USSF

How many caps does Christian Pulisic have?

Christian Pulisic leads the US men's national team with 82 caps as of the March 2026 squad announcement.Source: USSF

Background

US Soccer (the United States Soccer Federation, founded 1913) governs all levels of the sport in the United States, overseeing the national men's and women's teams, youth development, and domestic league standards. It is a member of FIFA and CONCACAF, and is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico — the largest sporting event ever staged in the United States by attendance and commercial scale.

The federation's competitive and organisational focus converged on the USMNT's build-up under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Squad selection reached its final stage with Chris Richards requiring an injury-replacement decision before the 11 June Deadline after sustaining ankle ligament damage; US Soccer filed within the FIFA window ahead of the 12 June opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium . On the commercial side, the federation handled a labour dispute: UNITE HERE Local 11 ratified a deal with Legends Hospitality on 11 June, averting a SoFi Stadium strike that would have created an image crisis at the tournament's opening US match .

US Soccer's strategic position is the defining test of its modern era: co-hosting the commercial flagship of world football while fielding a side expected to advance deep into the tournament. A host-nation group-stage exit would be a significant setback for the commercial narrative that underpins the federation's long-term investment in the domestic game, including nine MLS players in the match-day squad. The federation's dual role as tournament organiser and competing national association places operational and competitive pressures rarely faced by a governing body simultaneously.