The remarkable story of how billionaires bankrolled Mauricio Pochettino’s USA contract… and sparked America’s World Cup dreams

Always read the small print. Back in September 2024, buried within nearly 900 words of background information and bland quotes, US Soccer revealed something curious about the deal to secure Mauricio Pochettino.

‘[This] appointment is supported in significant part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, Founder and CEO of Citadel and Founder of Griffin Catalyst,’ the announcement read. ‘Additional support has been provided by Scott Goodwin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Diameter, and several commercial partners.’

That was all the information provided. But nearly two years on, with the United States set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32 of a home World Cup, Daily Mail Sport can detail exactly how billionaires came to bankroll Pochettino’s contract and shifted the trajectory of soccer on these shores forever.

The abridged version goes like this: after firing Gregg Berhalter in the wake of a disastrous Copa America campaign, US Soccer wanted to land one of soccer’s best managers. 

But the federation couldn’t afford a coach like Pochettino. Not when his contract is worth around $6million (£4.5m) a year and included a sign-on bonus of $2.5m (£1.9m). So in stepped Griffin and Goodwin, two men with big dreams and deep pockets.

The full, remarkable tale involves breakfast in Manhattan, Disney movies and Pochettino’s business advice to Wall Street financiers. The next chapter will be written at Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday, when the USMNT hopes to move one step closer to history.

‘Some people dream their lives, I think you have to live your dreams. And this is a dream that’s becoming a reality,’ Goodwin says. ‘There is nothing I would rather have invested in. I think in terms of the charitable things I’ve done in my life, or the things I’ve put money towards, this is the best cause because it can have the most multiplicative impact on this country.’

The seed was planted in a group chat in the summer of 2024. ‘The idea came from trying to fix something that was broken,’ explains Goodwin, whose firm – Diameter – is a $30billion (£22.7bn) credit investment firm based in New York.

With two years until the World Cup, the USMNT was without a coach or obvious direction. So Goodwin messaged three friends: Kyle Martino and Alecko Eskandarian – ex-US internationals – and Sean Feeney, a New York restauranteur and former Goldman Sachs trader. This is a huge opportunity, Goodwin told them.

By then, the USWNT had landed Emma Hayes. After a hugely successful spell at Chelsea, America made Hayes the highest-paid female coach in soccer. The men’s team had to follow suit, Goodwin thought.

It soon emerged that US Soccer had approached Jurgen Klopp. Alas, that was a doomed plan. Not only was the German planning a break after leaving Liverpool. But, as Goodwin’s friends pointed out, Klopp was out of America’s price range.

‘So I said: “What if I pay the difference?” They thought I was kidding,’ Goodwin recalls. He wasn’t. So Eskandarian – who played alongside David Beckham at LA Galaxy – put Goodwin in touch with officials at US Soccer.

By July 2024, he was having breakfast with JT Batson – CEO of US Soccer – at Locanda Verde, an Italian restaurant in New York’s trendy Tribeca neighborhood. Goodwin explained why he wanted to help: because he is patriotic and he believes America should be able to win.

A few weeks later, the call came: an agreement had been reached with Pochettino but US Soccer needed help to make the math work. Commercial partners would make up some of the difference if Goodwin could cover the rest.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t factored in that Pochettino’s backroom staff would need funding, too. Some reports claim the cost of firing Berhalter and hiring Team Pochettino cost a total of $20m (£15m). US Soccer has never addressed that figure and Goodwin won’t discuss his personal contribution, either. But he did reveal his reaction to hearing the financial shortfall. ‘I need to phone a friend,’ Goodwin told Batson.

So he reached out to Griffin. They knew each other from finance circles; the Citadel founder began trading from his Harvard dormitory and is now worth $50bn (£37.8bn).

‘[This] is a chance to change the path of US soccer and put out a competitive team at a home World Cup,’ Goodwin told him. ‘If you have a winner on the field at the senior level, it will trickle down and benefit all levels of the game in the US.’

Griffin didn’t need much persuasion. A lifelong soccer fan who played in college and now coaches his children’s teams, the billionaire had already donated $8m (£6m) to build 100 mini-pitches across Chicago and Miami. He admired Pochettino’s leadership skills and his ability to build teams. Griffin also hopes the World Cup can transform soccer in the US and believed hiring Pochettino could prove pivotal in growing the sport. He agreed to make the biggest contribution.

‘When our players do well on the pitch, it expands the reach of this great sport,’ Griffin told Daily Mail Sport. ‘Team sports teach young people in our country the life skills they need to succeed and prosper. It’s a gift everyone should have – and we want to bring the gift of soccer to as many children as possible.’

Goodwin first met Pochettino in person at their unveiling in September 2024. Since then, they have spent time together in London, Florida and New York. They have bonded over business and ice hockey.

One of the key tenets of Pochettino’s tenure has been transforming the culture of the USMNT by ripping the comfort blanket off star players and removing any notion of ‘regulars.’ 

It ruffled feathers but it also reminded Goodwin of ‘Miracle’ – the 2004 movie about the 1980 Winter Olympics, when a US hockey team made up of college kids beat the all-conquering Soviet Union before winning gold.

‘You have to watch that movie,’ Goodwin told the USMNT boss. ‘It’s going to resonate with you. It’s going to teach you about American sports culture.’

In the movie, coach Herb Brooks also preaches about picking the ‘right’ players’ rather than the ‘best’ players. The movie had Pochettino in tears.

‘He watched it and, without prompting, he stopped it,’ Goodwin recalls. Just when Brooks is discussing best players and right players. Pochettino sent the clip to Goodwin. ‘He saw through Miracle how inspiring a successful national team can be for the US.’

And, earlier this year, Pochettino returned the favor. Goodwin brought the USA coach in to talk to his team Diameter. Pochettino turned up on perhaps the firm’s worst day ever.

‘Do you want me to not do it?’ the Argentine asked. ‘No, what’s amazing is that you are here,’ Goodwin replied. ‘We talked about team building, how to develop young players or young investors without damaging their confidence, how to motivate someone who’s been successful at one level to get them to the next level.

‘His understanding of the psychology of team building, of motivating people, is incredible. My team loved it.’

A few months on, Goodwin is dreaming ‘every day’ of Pochettino lifting the World Cup aloft.

‘With women’s soccer, we’re winning World Cups, we’re winning Olympics. We should be doing the same thing on the men’s side,’ he says. ‘Whether it’s in 2026, 2030, 2034, it’s going to happen.’

It helps that US Soccer has a stunning new National Training Center outside Atlanta, named after another billionaire – Arthur Blank -after he contributed $50m (£37.8m) to the project.

To Goodwin, meanwhile, Pochettino’s appointment is a ‘good precedent’ – from now, the USMNT and USWNT should always aspire to have coaches of this caliber. The federation is said to share that view.

And the reaction to America’s performances has convinced Goodwin that this was a sound investment. ‘Other people buy sports teams,’ he says. ‘This is a lot less money and a lot more impactful.’