Pep Guardiola is the name U.S. Soccer reportedly wants first if USA lose Mauricio Pochettino to Manchester United. The idea is still conditional, but it is real enough to have moved Guardiola ahead of the rest of the field in the federation's thinking. Pochettino signed a four-year extension in August, so any change would cut across a commitment that was only just put on paper.
Guardiola's view of the job
Guardiola has not hidden the fact that the United States appeals to him. Speaking to si.com, he said: "The USA is fascinating to try to build a project for many years and being able to get the national team to the next step. The potential with the USA is there for the amount of people and sports and so on."
He also made clear he is in no rush to jump back in. "Mentally, I don't miss anything. I started coaching when I was 37, and my whole life revolved around football. Now I want to discover life and find happiness in things that have nothing to do with soccer," Guardiola said in the same interview.
The timing around Pochettino
Tom Bogert has said U.S. Soccer already made contact with Guardiola after the 2022 World Cup and before Pochettino's appointment in 2024, which is part of why the name has not come out of nowhere. The federation would also have a window to work with if the Pochettino-to-Manchester United move does happen, because the team's next competitive fixtures are not until March.
That gives U.S. Soccer about four months to make its case. Pochettino's side still has a respectable base to work from too, with the USA reaching the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup and taking 6 points from 3 matches in Group D. Guardiola is the ambitious option, but the harder part is not identifying him. It is convincing him to end the break he has already said he wants.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
