U.S. Soccer tries to keep Pochettino as post-World Cup search looms
ESPN reports Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT future is unsettled after the World Cup, with U.S. Soccer in talks and possible replacements emerging.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Mauricio Pochettino’s next move is now the biggest USMNT question left standing after the Americans’ 2026 World Cup ended with a loss to Belgium, according to ESPN.
The manager’s contract was expected to run through the tournament, and ESPN reported that the long-running expectation around the job has been that Pochettino would leave afterward and position himself for a return to European club soccer. His plan, though, has not been made public.
U.S. Soccer is trying to keep him, ESPN reported. The federation and Pochettino have held contract talks, while U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson told ESPN before the team’s elimination that Pochettino and assistant Jesus Perez had been involved in planning beyond the senior team’s immediate World Cup run.
Batson told ESPN that Pochettino and Perez had spent time with a youth national team player eligible for other countries and had also contributed ideas for the athletes village at the national training center, drawing on their experience at Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
After the defeat to Belgium, Pochettino did not bite on future talk. ESPN reported he said, “Now isn’t the moment to talk about that.” Jeff Carlisle of ESPN reported the situation is still unresolved, citing a person familiar with it who said there is “no specific time frame right now.”
ESPN also reported that Pochettino has been linked with AC Milan and Real Madrid, though both clubs made other appointments, and that Premier League clubs have shown interest.
The names in the frame
If Pochettino exits, ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Cesar Hernandez, Julien Laurens, Mark Ogden, Bill Connelly, Lizzy Becherano and Caitlin Murray put forward 11 names U.S. Soccer could consider.
Steve Cherundolo: ESPN noted that U.S. Soccer has already named him coach of the U.S. under-23 men’s team for the 2028 Olympics. As a player, he was selected for three World Cup squads, though injury kept him out in 2002. As LAFC manager, he won three trophies, according to ESPN.
Mikey Varas: ESPN pointed to his U.S. Soccer background, including time as a senior-team assistant, a late-2024 interim spell with the USMNT and a 2022 Concacaf Championship title with the U.S. under-20s. He has coached San Diego FC since its 2025 MLS debut.
B.J. Callaghan: ESPN cited his five years across two stints as a USMNT assistant under Gregg Berhalter. He also served as interim manager and led the U.S. to the 2023 Concacaf Nations League title. At Nashville SC, he won the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, according to ESPN.
Gareth Southgate: ESPN’s case for the former England manager centered on tournament experience. Southgate led England to two European Championship finals, and ESPN said his leadership and culture-building could appeal to U.S. Soccer.
Pellegrino Matarazzo: ESPN described him as an American coach with success in Europe, including promotion with VfB Stuttgart, European qualification with Hoffenheim and a Copa del Rey title with Real Sociedad.
Pep Guardiola: ESPN’s Julien Laurens argued U.S. Soccer should pursue Guardiola after his Manchester City exit. ESPN credited him with six Premier League titles and three Champions League trophies.
Jesse Marsch: ESPN’s Mark Ogden said Marsch should be considered despite his polarizing Canada tenure, citing his work at RB Leipzig, Leeds United and Canada’s highest-ever World Cup finish.
Julian Nagelsmann and Thierry Henry: ESPN also listed Nagelsmann, pointing to his Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Germany experience, and named Henry among the possible candidates.
For now, the first call is still Pochettino’s, and ESPN’s reporting leaves the job exactly where U.S. Soccer does not want it: open-ended.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.