The United States men's national team could be on the verge of a seismic coaching shake-up, with Pep Guardiola and former England boss Gareth Southgate both floated as blockbuster replacements should Mauricio Pochettino's tenure come to a close following the 2026 World Cup.
Pochettino guided the USMNT to a 3-0-2 record in the tournament, sweeping through Group D before a crushing 4-1 defeat to Belgium brought their campaign to an abrupt halt. US Soccer released a statement following the loss, noting that positive conversations with Pochettino had taken place before the tournament and would resume after a period of rest and reflection, expressing "a great deal of respect and gratitude" for the Argentine coach and his staff.
The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager embraced American culture throughout a World Cup that set attendance records and earned widespread praise. However, links to AC Milan — the club of US star Christian Pulisic — surfaced before group stage action even began, and Pochettino entered the tournament working under an expiring contract.
Should the two parties split, the USMNT appears poised to aim higher. According to ESPN, Manchester City legend Guardiola tops the wish list of potential successors. The report highlighted Guardiola's well-known desire to manage a national team, his love of American life — particularly New York City, where he lived during his sabbatical between Barcelona and Bayern Munich — and his fascination with US sports culture, including a noted "bromance" with Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.
Southgate, meanwhile, represents a different but equally compelling option. The man who led England to two European Championship finals endured relentless pressure and accusations of underachievement with the Three Lions, but ESPN argued the USMNT job could suit him perfectly. The expectations and scrutiny would be significantly lower stateside, and the US squad lacks the embarrassment of riches that made England's roster decisions so contentious. Southgate's strengths in leadership and culture-building were identified as realistic areas where the USMNT could gain a competitive edge.
Other names on ESPN's list included American coach Jesse Marsch, who led Canada during the World Cup, along with Thierry Henry, Thomas Frank, and Julian Nagelsmann. The outlet made the case for Marsch's combative personality, writing: "A team usually reflects the personality of its coach, so would it be a bad thing if the US became a little more aggressive and snappy under his watch?"
The stakes are clear. The USMNT has not reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 2002, and securing either Guardiola or Southgate would represent the biggest coaching appointment in US Soccer history. While Thomas Tuchel was preparing England for a World Cup semifinal clash with Argentina, the possibility of his predecessor Southgate crossing the Atlantic added another layer of intrigue to an already fascinating coaching carousel.