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The United States men's national team ultimately fell short of expectations at the 2026 World Cup on home turf, beginning with promise before becoming mired in unwanted controversy—none of its own creation—and eventually faltering when faced with a genuine challenge in the round of 16.
Nevertheless, Mauricio Pochettino—a free agent at the tournament's conclusion—was awarded a new contract granting him and his staff considerably broader influence and authority than before.
The Argentine has been tasked with "advising and supporting U.S. Soccer on the wider development of the full national team pathway, youth soccer, coaching education, professional league collaboration and other technical aspects."
No longer simply a head coach, the vision is to help elevate soccer across the United States at every level. However, just three months into the role, the arrangement may already be at risk of unraveling.
This is the inherent danger of employing a top-tier manager. Others will inevitably come calling.
Pochettino has surfaced as a frontrunner for the Manchester United job. Nothing has been finalized, but there is an expectation that CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox will recommend to Sir Jim Ratcliffe later this week that Michael Carrick be dismissed. The Red Devils appear to be charting a different course than previously, moving directly to a new permanent manager rather than relying on an interim—as Carrick himself initially served—in the near term.
Few positions in soccer carry more weight than Manchester United—despite the club's troubling on-field decline and the obstacles awaiting any incoming manager—and Pochettino is described by BBC Sport as "open" to the prospect of taking on the role.
It has been suggested that his contract with U.S. Soccer contains a buyout clause that can be activated in the event of "specific high-profile jobs" becoming available. The Athletic reports that clause to be worth $10 million, though anyone also seeking to bring along Pochettino's trusted backroom staff would need to pay "millions more dollars."
Why Man Utd Are Interested in Pochettino
Although Pochettino has shifted his career toward international management since being appointed by the USMNT in 2024, he remains one of the Premier League's most respected coaches of the past decade or so, following a surprise appointment by Southampton back in 2013.
Pochettino transformed the Saints into a Premier League force—much in the way Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Brentford have done in recent years—and subsequently guided Tottenham Hotspur to consistent Champions League appearances and even the 2019 final. A stint at Chelsea in 2023–24, which followed winning three trophies in 18 months at Paris Saint-Germain, proved less fruitful. Yet the 54-year-old's standing was hardly diminished given the broader institutional difficulties he encountered, including friction with senior leadership. To take the Old Trafford post, he would likely require firm assurances regarding his authority and the power structure to be established during negotiations.
It is by no means certain at this point that he would accept, but it remains a genuine possibility.
Manchester United have been connected with Pochettino periodically over the past decade, yet circumstances have never fully aligned to make it happen. He first ignited speculation in 2016 when Louis van Gaal was under mounting pressure, after meeting Sir Alex Ferguson for dinner.
There was reported interest when José Mourinho was sacked at the close of 2018, with further links resurfacing in 2021 following Ole Gunnar Solskjær's exit, and again in 2022 when the club was weighing a permanent successor during Ralf Rangnick's interim tenure.
Poor Timing From a USMNT Perspective
An added complication for the USMNT is a series of imminent fixtures against Haiti in the two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. The opening match is set for Nov. 14 in Miami, with the return leg in Cincinnati three days later.
Manchester United will need any replacement for Carrick in place well ahead of the club's next fixture against Liverpool in the Premier League on Nov. 22. This could accelerate the process if the Red Devils settle on Pochettino, potentially leaving the Stars and Stripes in a difficult position. Should negotiations be progressing behind the scenes while the USMNT is in action, Pochettino may remain at the helm but it would serve as a significant distraction.
Haiti has not defeated the U.S. since 1973, but three consecutive American victories in Gold Cup competition since 2015 have each come by just a single goal, and the Caribbean side would look to capitalize on any lapse in American concentration. Reclaiming the Nations League title that the USMNT once dominated but Mexico claimed in 2024–25 hinges on avoiding such a slip.
The silver lining for U.S. Soccer is that receiving substantial compensation for Pochettino and his staff to exit their contracts would at least provide funds to reinvest in the next manager.