Pochettino to Coach Final Two USMNT Matches Against Haiti Before Manchester United Move

What is usually a quiet international break in the soccer world has turned out to be anything but. U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino will leave the program after the two CONCACAF Nations League matches against Haiti and become the new manager of Manchester United, following the Red Devils' announcement that Michael Carrick had been sacked.

Pochettino, who was hired by the USMNT in 2024, will now make his return to the Premier League, where he previously coached Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea. His first game in charge of his final camp with the United States comes Saturday, Nov. 14, when Haiti host the Americans at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, a match available on TNT and HBO Max.

The sudden departure leaves one big question behind: who succeeds Pochettino in charge of the national team? With a new national training center, an established roster and young players pushing into the squad from everywhere, the job should be attractive to managers around the world, depending on the direction U.S. Soccer chooses. Pochettino was an appropriately splashy hire ahead of the World Cup, and it is no surprise that a top club still wanted him. But with an eye on building a stable base for 2030, the powers that be may prefer a candidate more bought into American soccer.

One internal option is Steve Cherundolo, currently in charge of the U.S. Under-23s. The former Los Angeles FC manager would likely be part of any USMNT succession plan, since the goal had been to bring the two camps together, align their styles and allow players to move between squads as needed. The complication is that everything has happened faster than anticipated. A Cherundolo handover looked more like a 2028 post-Olympic scenario than an immediate one. Still, LAFC's performance without him suggests how much he held that squad together, so he could fit the role. The question is simply when.

The biggest name in the conversation is Pep Guardiola, currently a free agent. The former Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss is expected to be U.S. Soccer's top target, according to The Athletic. The federation reportedly called Jurgen Klopp before hiring Pochettino, and this would be a similar swing, with Klopp now in charge of Germany. Guardiola will not stay out of management forever, so the logic goes, why not try to bring him in for the road to 2030? He would raise the same doubts as Pochettino about long-term fit, but those concerns matter less if the aim is to hire the best available manager for the job.

Roberto Martinez, also unattached, could come into consideration again after his name surfaced following the World Cup, when a decision was being made on whether to extend Pochettino. On paper he offers European experience and the staying power of someone who has led multiple international sides through entire cycles. But he could not guide Belgium's golden generation to a title and struggled to get Portugal playing to its talent, making him a tough fit. With young players beginning to lead the way for the USMNT, going the domestic route first would make more sense.

Beyond the Nations League, the weekend offers plenty for American soccer fans. Saturday's slate includes the NWSL semifinal between the Washington Spirit and Utah Royals at noon Eastern on CBS and Paramount+, plus the USL League One final between Charlotte Independence and Athletic Club Boise at 7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Sunday brings Ravenna against Forli in Serie C, featuring Ronaldinho's comeback, at 11:30 a.m. on Paramount+ and Golazo Network, followed by the second NWSL semifinal between Gotham FC and the Kansas City Current at 3 p.m. on ABC.