Pochettino Out: Who Will Be The Next USMNT Manager?

Dylan Wilkerson Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

U.S. Soccer has a vacancy it did not see coming. Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the national team, and the federation now has to find a coach to lead the program toward the 2030 World Cup.

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Why Pochettino Left

The reason is simple: Manchester United came calling. Pochettino is set to be named United’s new manager after the club fired Michael Carrick following a dismal start to the Premier League season. The timing stings because he had re-signed for a second World Cup cycle just months ago. U.S. Soccer will at least be compensated, as the federation will receive a $10 million buyout. Pochettino had been linked with a return to Europe for much of his tenure, and a job at one of England’s biggest clubs was always going to be hard to turn down.

The Candidates

Pep Guardiola. He is the dream scenario. Guardiola is currently unemployed, and the federation reportedly will go all out to convince him. The catch is the price, since he would cost millions to land. It is a long shot, but U.S. Soccer will almost certainly make the call.

B.J. Callaghan. Many see him as the most logical option if the big names say no. One analyst noted that Callaghan has had a brilliant year with Nashville SC and already has USMNT experience as an interim and assistant coach. His interim run was memorable, as he had the team rolling through Mexico and Canada on the way to a Nations League title in 2023. The timing works too, since he would be available once the MLS Cup playoffs end.

Steve Cherundolo. The current U.S. Under-23 coach is a former national team defender who made 87 appearances for the USMNT. He also has experience in coaching roles overseas as an assistant. Promoting him would offer continuity, and he is already preparing the squad for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Pellegrino Matarazzo. The American-born manager is currently at Real Sociedad. He has the club in contention for a Champions League spot in his second season, and he was in the running for the USMNT job that ultimately went to Pochettino. He would be a popular third choice.

Gareth Southgate, Roberto Martinez and Julian Nagelsmann. Several experienced international names have also been floated. Martinez and Southgate are among the additional candidates mentioned, and Nagelsmann has been raised as another high-profile possibility. Like Guardiola, none of them will come cheap.

What the Next Coach Inherits

Whoever takes over gets a solid foundation. The group includes Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, along with younger talents like Cavan Sullivan. The new coach will also need to decide how to get the most out of creative players such as Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman.

What Comes Next

In the short term, an interim coach will take over during next month’s camp featuring MLS players. The bigger question is how patient the federation will be. The ideal outcome might be a big swing for Guardiola, with Callaghan as a strong fallback. A Cherundolo promotion would be the safest route. There is no rush, since the next competitive windows will give any new staff time to evaluate players and build an identity.

For a program coming off a home World Cup, this is a chance to reset. How U.S. Soccer handles it will say a lot about its ambitions heading into 2030.

Dylan Wilkerson

Dylan Wilkerson has over 5 years of experience reporting and analyzing the sports betting industry for various sites. His portfolio includes work for SportsHandle and Action Network, in addition to VegasInsider. His favorite sports are the NFL, College Football, The PGA Tour, the LIV Tour, and Cricket. Dylan has a broad and deep understanding of various sports-related topics. More from Dylan Wilkerson