Mauricio Pochettino's contract expired at the end of the 2026 World Cup, and right now the USMNT job is a vacancy waiting to happen. Whether Pochettino returns to Argentina, walks back into club management, or surprises everyone and signs on for another cycle is still unclear — but U.S. Soccer can't afford to wait around on that answer.
The next four years matter. A Copa America is likely on the horizon, and the 2030 World Cup is the real target. Whoever gets this job needs to hit the ground running.
The Realistic Candidates
The name that keeps coming up is Pellegrino Matarazzo, and it makes sense. The 48-year-old Wayne, New Jersey native blends American identity with genuine European coaching credibility — something U.S. Soccer rarely finds in one package. He reportedly held talks with the federation back in 2024, and his stock has only risen since: at Real Sociedad, he won the Copa del Rey and earned a Europa League spot in his first season. U.S. Soccer knows him. He likely wants the job. That's a rare alignment.
Mikey Varas represents the inside track. The 43-year-old San Francisco native has lived the entire USMNT ecosystem — youth coach, senior assistant under Berhalter, caretaker manager in 2024, and now head coach at San Diego FC, where he won the Western Conference in their debut season. His press-heavy, up-tempo style is essentially a continuation of what Pochettino built. For a federation that wants continuity, that's not nothing.
BJ Callaghan shouldn't be overlooked either. As interim boss in 2023, he went unbeaten across seven matches and won both the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup. That's not a fluke. He's since turned Nashville SC into a consistent Eastern Conference contender. The question is whether U.S. Soccer wants to hand a permanent senior job to someone whose only time in charge was technically temporary.
Then there's Gareth Southgate, who has been unemployed since Euro 2024 and, by all accounts, is being selective about his next move. He consistently dragged England deeper into tournaments than their performances deserved — that's actually a useful skill for a USMNT team still bridging the gap between potential and consistency. Whether he views the U.S. job as the right challenge is the open question.
Thierry Henry completes the realistic five. He's coached Montreal, assisted Belgium at a World Cup, and led France's U-21s to an Olympic silver. The interest was there in 2024. It's probably still there now. His profile would attract attention and dual nationals alike. The concern is longevity — he's never stuck around anywhere for long.
The Dream Hires (and Why They Probably Won't Happen)
Pep Guardiola is the obvious fantasy. He just left Manchester City after ten years and has reportedly held talks with Italy's federation — which already puts him one step ahead in any potential race. The U.S. setup offers genuine appeal: a Copa America, a home World Cup in 2030, a roster with real upside. But Guardiola can have almost any job in the world right now. Italy got there first.
Didier Deschamps spent 14 years managing France, won the 2018 World Cup as boss, and just wrapped up at the 2026 tournament. At 57, he could coach for another decade if he wanted. Whether he wants it this soon, and whether the U.S. job excites him, is genuinely unknown. It would be a coup. Don't bet on it.
Julian Nagelsmann is the most intriguing outside option. Germany let him go after another early World Cup exit — upset by Paraguay in the Round of 32 — but his club record at Leipzig and Bayern is hard to dismiss. He's 37, or thereabouts, and has years of elite management ahead of him. Crucially, a German coach of his stature could accelerate the pipeline of dual nationals currently choosing between the U.S. and Europe, including defender Noahkai Banks, who is still deciding between Germany and the USMNT.
- Pellegrino Matarazzo — Copa del Rey winner, American roots, likely interested
- Mikey Varas — Inside candidate, fits the Pochettino style, unproven at senior level long-term
- BJ Callaghan — Beloved interim, proven winner, Nashville pedigree growing
- Gareth Southgate — Deep tournament experience, selective about next move
- Thierry Henry — Intriguing profile, question marks on commitment
- Pep Guardiola — Unlikely, Italy ahead in the queue
- Didier Deschamps — Elite pedigree, timing uncertain
- Julian Nagelsmann — High ceiling, dual-national recruitment bonus
Matarazzo is the pick that makes the most sense on paper. But U.S. Soccer has surprised before — in both directions.
