USMNT coaching candidates: Could Pep Guardiola potentially replace Mauricio Pochettino?

With a potential vacancy, U.S. Soccer must decide between another massive international splash and or perhaps somebody with MLS ties Nov 11, 2026 at 2:11 pm ET • 4 min read With Mauricio Pochettino looking like he is on the way to Manchester United, there could be a major vacancy to fill for the U.S. men's national team with the head coach position. With a new national training center, an established team, and young players coming up from everywhere to push that squad, it's a job that should be an attractive one to managers around the world, depending on the direction that U.S. Soccer wants to go.Pochettino was an appropriate splash hire ahead of the World Cup, and it's not surprising that a top team in the world still wanted him. But when looking to build a stable base for 2030, there's a chance that the powers that be would prefer a candidate who would be more bought into American soccer, so when looking at potential candidates to take the role, it makes sense to sound out both options, and here's the list it has come to:B.J. Callaghan, Nashville SC The best American coach in Major League Soccer and someone who also got my vote for Coach of the Year after leading Nashville SC to a league-record 77 points in the regular season, B.J. Callaghan will need to be among the top contenders for the USMNT job if the U.S. Soccer Federation chooses to go with an American fit instead of another splash hire like Pochettino. He already has experience coaching and leading the USMNT during tournament play, leading the squad to the 2023 Concacaf Nations League title before heading to Nashville and turning them into one of the most complete sides in MLS. Callaghan has paid his dues, going from the college ranks all the way to the professional ones, and is someone with intimate knowledge of the American soccer system. If looking to go in a more traditional direction while also not shifting the vision of Olympic play, Callaghan is a solid choice.Wilfried Nancy, free agent While Nancy's time at Celtic after leaving the Columbus Crew was a moment to forget, not all of that was his fault, as the French manager has done nothing but succeed in his career, no matter where he has gone. Limit his resources, and he'll develop a system to get the best out of what he has; increase them, and he'll go toe to toe with everyone, and that flexibility is critical in international play. It's rare that you have your first-choice 11 available, and being able to work around that is what can make a difference on the margins. Nancy could want to still test himself in Europe but it doesn't hurt to call. Steve Cherundolo, U.S. U-23s Currently overseeing the U-23s, the former Los Angeles FC manager would likely be in the USMNT succession plan for Pochettino. The goal was to bring both camps together as much as possible and ensure that they had a similar style, as plenty of players would go between both squads depending on needs. The issue is that this has all happened faster than anyone would've anticipated, since if Steve Cherundolo was going to take over the USMNT, that'd likely be a 2028 post-Olympic deal rather than right at this moment. But also looking at the performance of LAFC without Cherundolo, it's clear that he held things together plenty in that squad and that he could be a fit for the role; the question is just when.Pep Guardiola, free agentYou have to make the call, and it looks like they will. We all know what the answer likely is, but if there's an opening and the USMNT wants the best manager available, Pep Guardiola is right there. The former Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona bossd is expected to be their top target, according to The Athletic. They reportedly called Jurgen Klopp before hiring Pochettino, and this would be a similar scenario as Klopp is now with Germany. Guardiola isn't going to stay out of management forever, so why not try to bring him back in on the road to 2030? He would be facing similar issues to Pochettino of not knowing if he'll be a long-term fit for the role, but those aren't things that should come into play if the goal is to hire the best available manager who is a fit for the job. Roberto Martinez, free agentA name that came up after the World Cup when decisions were being made on whether Pochettino should be extended, Roberto Martinez could come into consideration yet again. On paper, he offers a mix of European experience and the staying power of someone who has overseen multiple international sides for an entire cycle, but it's tough to say he'd be a good fit. Martinez wasn't able to lead Belgium's golden generation to a title and struggled to get Portugal to play to their talent as well. With a USMNT that have the world at their feet as young players begin to lead the way, it'd be better to go the domestic route before turning to Martinez.