US Coach Poch Leaving for Man U after Nations League Semi’s vs Haiti Sat 4:30 pm TBS & Tues 7 pm TBS in Cincy
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So Poch finally left us. Of course the question was never if but when. Honestly I wish he had just left after his underwhelming World Cup display – where he got us no further than Bruce Arena, Juergen Klinsman or even everyone’s whipping boy Greg Berhalter. I said from day 1 it should have been US coach BJ Callaghan – the man who so deftly took over for Berhalter as interim and won a Nations League title over Mexico then a Gold Cup with B players. I hope they make that decision this time after BJ gets his Nashville team to the at least the Semi-Finals of the MLS playoffs this season. Again those who know me – know I was never a big Pochetino fan. Honestly what did he do? He lost the Nations League in the Semi’s (first US coach to do this we had won 2 in a row under Berhalter & BJ) then he lost the Gold Cup in the finals to Mexico (with a B team) just like Berhalter – though BJ won both in his interum run for GB. Then in the World Cup after NEVER playing our starting back line together – much less the starting 11 he finally put it together for an impressive first win and decent slim win over Australia before blowing it by changing everyone including the keeper in the 3rd game. Another loss in the Round of 16 means he did not go any further than any other US coach ever has foreign or domestic. In fact at least our other Rd of 16 losses weren’t blowout losses with a horrific GK and 43 year old grandpa playing centerback. And don’t forget Arena took us to a handball away from the Final 4 – in 2002. So good luck Poch – not sure you were ever actually into this thing. Heck you almost left for AC Milan right before the World Cup. I will say the 5 million to a guy who NEVER even moved to the US fulltime while constantly interviewing for other jobs on the US dime was not worth it. Some may disagree – but what you can’t disagree with is – the results were NO BETTER than our American coaches. Again – NO FOREIGN COACH has EVER Won a World Cup. Time to go back to BJ hopefully after he gets his MLS Shield holders Nashville to the MLS Finals.
Now on to this week’s game with a reminder that Haiti beat our Jamaica for the World Cup – so this Haiti team is not bad. Of course the game is in Miami not Haiti – which should help some – though word is Haiti will be there in force. Of course we should hold the advantage at home in Cincy as my buddy Bart and I will head on down to defend the Heartland in Cincy where we have never lost a qualifier. Tix still available for Tues night.
So my line-up for Saturday above – not sure about the back 3 but that is what we have been running. I like Caden on the right and Pulisic on the left with Balogun up top. Not much room for mids here though Adams & McKennie or Berhalter or Tillman ?? not sure who he goes with. Definitely looking forward to seeing how the kids play, I think we win this one like 2-1 in a very hostile environment in Miami with tons of Haitians there. It will be better in Cincy Tuesday night.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Matt Freese (New York City FC), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
DEFENDERS (9): Reed Baker-Whiting (Nashville SC), George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Bryan Reynolds (Stade Rennais), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Auston Trusty (Celtic)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Santiago Castañeda (SC Paderborn), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
FORWARDS (5): Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Justin Ellis (Orlando City), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)
This Week in Soccer
Pulisic’s goal vs Inter Milan in their huge 3-1 win! https://x.com/usmnt/status/2117004182662058426/video/1?s=46 Check out this ball handling – something to work on at home ! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DWQS66B62/?mibextid=wwXIfr. Don ‘t ever disrespect Messi https://x.com/Charles12421/status/2120424887487697315?s=46. Speaking of Messi – Columbus opens playoffs at Miami next Sat then hosts Rd 2 in Columbus Thanksgiving Fri eve (chance to see Messi in person)! Excited to watch the NWSL Semi-Finals on CBS Sat 12:30 Trinity Rodman looking like the best in the world for Washington hosting expansion side Utah or Cincy’s own Rose Lavelle & Gothem hosting Kansas City at 3 pm on ABC on Sunday around the Nations League games. (see stories below) Both Megan Rapinoe and Jozy Altidore will don the red jacket in April 2027 after being surprised on Thursday with the news that they will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as members of the 2027 class. And yes, Rapinoe got the news at the airport! The U.S. is also one step closer to hosting the 2031 Women’s World Cup alongside Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. FIFA reported the bid met the minimum requirements and will now be voted on at the FIFA Congress on Nov. 23.
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TV Schedule
thur, Nov 12
12 noon FS1 Turkey vs Belgium
2:45 pm FS1 Italy vs France NL
2:45 pm FS+ Czech Republic vs Spain
2:45 pm fubo TV England vs Croatia
7:30 pm FS2 Curacao vs Panama
Fri, Nov 13
2;45 pm FS1 Netherlands vs Greece
6 pm FS2 St Martin vs El Salvador
9 pm FS2 Guatamala vs Canada NL Quarters
Sat, Nov 14
12 noon FS2 Norway vs Wales
2:45 pm FS2 Portugal vs Denmark
12 noon CBS Washington Spirit (Rodman) vs Utah Royals NWSL Semis
4:30 pm TBS, Tele, HBO Haiti vs USA NL Quarters
8;45 pm Univision Jamaica vs Mexico NL Quarters
Sun. Nov 15
9 am FS2 Cyprus vs Montenegro
2:45 pm fuboTV Belgium v Italy NL
2:45 pm FS2 France vs Turkey NL
2:45 pm fuboTV England vs Spain NL
3 pm ABC Gotham FC (Levelle) vs KC Current (NWSL semis)
Mon. Nov 16
9 am FS2 Kazahstan vs Slovakia NL
12 noon FS2 Estonia vs Bulgaria NL
2:45 pm FS1 Germany vs Netherlands NL
2:45 pm FS2 Greece vs Serbia NL
7 pm FS2 T&T vs Antigua
8 pm FS1 Canada vs Guatemala
Tues. Nov 17
2:45 pm FS2 Hungary vs Northern Ireland NL
2:45 pm FS1 Denmark vs Norway NL
2:45 pm fuboTV Wales vs Portugal
7 pm TNT, HBO USA vs Haiti – Cincy (tix avail)
7 pm FS2 French Guiana vs St Vincent & G
8 pm FS1 El Salvador vs St Martin
9″30 pm Univision Mexico vs Jamaica NL Quarters
Thurs, Nov 19 MLS Playoffs Start
7:30 pm Apple TV Orlando City vs Cincy Wild Card
10 pm Apple TV Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake Wild Card
Sat, Nov 21
7:30 am USA Man City vs Fulham (Robinson)
9:;30 am Fandango B Mgladbach vs Dortmund
10 am USA?? Chelsea vs Leeds United (Aaronson)
12:30 pm NBC Newcastle United vs Arsenal
2 pm Apple TV New England vs Philly Union (Sullivan)
4 pm Apple TV Dallas vs Portland Timbers (best of 3)
6 pm Apple TV Miami vs Columbus Crew (best of 3)
Fri, Nov 27
8 pm Apple TV Columbus Crew vs Miami (best of 3)
Ben’s BBQ Shack near Grand Park has the Best Dang Brisket you can buy in Indiana
USA Men
Mauricio Pochettino’s looming USMNT exit was always a matter of when, not if
USMNT or Manchester United: Pros and cons of Pochettino’s options
Mauricio Pochettino leaving USMNT for Manchester United just months after signing new deal
Mauricio Pochettino will coach USMNT vs. Haiti despite looming Manchester United move
Why Sullivan is the co-star Pulisic has always needed — and the USMNT, too
Five potential international debutants to watch during the November break
2026-27 CONCACAF Nations League: Scouting Haiti
Pochettino’s squad illustrates his task: blend prodigious prospects with USMNT’s golden generation
Reyna was fit and firing for Strasbourg. His latest injury is a heartbreaker for the USMNT star
Cavan Sullivan turned 17 last month, but he’s already playing like an MLS MVP
USMNT’s Balogun says he’ll seek transfer from Monaco in January
The USMNT’s new guard gets its chance
U.S. Soccer withdraws from U-17 World Cup in Qatar over safety concerns amid Iran war, sources say
NWSL Semi-Finals Sat/Sun
NWSL semifinal preview 2026: The final four, the ‘under-dawgs’ and the favorites
Gotham FC’s home semifinal moved to 5K-seat stadium in field quality debacle
NWSL power rankings: Confidence meter for all four semifinalists
NWSL quarterfinals: Utah Royals scores first playoff goal, Jess Fishlock plays last
Six best players from the NWSL playoff quarterfinals
Is Trinity Rodman About to Carry Washington Spirit to an NWSL … video
Trinity Rodman Is Playing Like a Woman POSSESSED! video
Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns FC | NWSL Highlights
MLS Playoffs start next week
https://www.mlssoccer.com/bracket-challenge/
Lionel Messi Effect Shatters MLS Attendance Records as Inter Miami Dominates 2026
Bandwagon guide: Who to root for in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs
Will MLS teams’ regular-season momentum last the two weeks before the playoffs start?
MLS announces 2026 Year-End Awards finalists: Messi, Sullivan headline MVP race
MLS club CF Montreal is put up for sale, future in the city is uncertain
MLS captain says ‘abolish ICE’ after final game for Austin FC
Nashville SC boasts six finalists for MLS end of season awards
Every eliminated MLS team: What worked and what didn’t in 2026, what needs improving in 2027?
WORLD
GK
Saves https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfULO7cRcuO/?dlrf=bnIwcXY3dnFzcWt6
Where to stand for Corner https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcyTGuhzQKg/?vrfl=b2J2bjBzbW15NmVx
Defending Corner Kicks
Notice the Keeper is in the middle of the goal – not front post. Stand about 1 step out of the goal and at a 45% angle towards the kicker. You have a front post and back post defender (wingers not centerbacks). Yell KEEPER if you are going to catch or punch – AWAY if you are not.
| Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals, NWSL Semifinal (Sat., Nov. 14, 12:00 pm ET, CBS): The Spirit are one win away from playing for a title at home, something that hasn’t happened in the NWSL since 2019, and a third straight trip to the NWSL Championship. And now Trinity Rodman is cooking after a brace in their first playoff game against Portland. They are up against a clear underdog in a Utah team led by USWNT goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn, who was stellar in the quarterfinals against San Diego. It’s definitely a David-Goliath type of match, but the Royals do have some offensive magic up their sleeve with Canadian international Cloe Lacasse, who delivered 10 assists in the regular season. |
| Gotham FC vs. Kansas City Current, NWSL Semifinal (Sun., Nov. 15, 3:00 p.m. ET, ABC): This one brings an element of revenge. One year ago, Kansas City was the top seed and Shield winner in the playoffs, and Gotham rolled into CPKC Stadium and stunned the Current on their way to a league title. Now the tables are turned as Gotham wears the crown, and KC hopes to spring an upset led by three-headed attack Temwa Chawinga, Croix Bethune and Michelle Cooper. But can the league’s top defense and the magic of Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw slow KC down for a shot at the double and a repeat? |
| Charleston Battery vs. Louisville City SC, USL Championship Eastern Conference Final (Sat., Nov. 14, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+): Both teams needed late-game heroics in the semifinal round to punch their tickets to the conference final, where two of the winningest USL Championship squads fight for a place in the championship match. Lou City is in the conference final for the 10th time in 12 years, looking to avenge a 2023 playoff defeat to Charleston. The Battery boast 19-year-old USYNT prospect Colton Swan, who scored off the bench last weekend, while Lou City’s English forward Tola Showunmi has been the super sub of the moment, scoring both game-winners for Lou City in the postseason. |
| New Mexico United vs. Sacramento Republic FC, USL Championship Western Conference Final (Sun., Nov. 15, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+): The West went chalk, so we’ve got a classic No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on the other side of the bracket. The top seed, New Mexico, is in search of its first-ever hardware, but they will come face-to-face with a Sacramento squad that has not lost in three months marking 15 games unbeaten. Former Houston Dynamo product Memo Rodriguez leads the way for Sac Republic with five goals and five assists in his last seven games, while a blast from the past for some serious hardcore sickos reps a New Mexico kit: Gedion Zelalem. |
| Charlotte Independence vs. AC Boise, USL League One Final (Sat., Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Golazo): Saturday night will crown a first-time League One champion, with the expansion Cinderella AC Boise facing a Charlotte team that was runner-up in 2023 and is one win away from the double. The Independence are a juggernaut: 74 goals, a 16-1-1 record at home, Golden Boot winner Souaibou Marou up top, and Jon Bakero, the fifth overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, setting a league record with 18 assists. Boise wins with balance, with six players who have at least nine goal contributions this season, including Idaho native and former Timbers homegrown Blake Bodily, plus RSL loanee and semifinal hero Jesus Barea. |
| MLS Award Finalists Are Here! |
| Amidst the USMNT saga, MLS dropped its award finalists for the 2026 season. You can take a look at the full list here, but some things stood out to us. |
| Nashville SC is well represented and rightfully so; they broke every record under the sun this season. Six nominations across the major categories: Hany Mukhtar for MVP, B.J. Callaghan, who is probably a slam dunk for Coach of the Year, all three nominees for Defender of the Year, so that’s in the bag, and another strong candidate for Goalkeeper of the Year, Brian Schwake, who tied Tony Meola’s 26-year-old record for clean sheets (16) in a single season. Cavan Sullivan. There’s really not much else to say. He’s now the youngest MVP finalist ever at 17 years old and the first teenager. While Messi is surely the frontrunner, it’s clear Sullivan has earned respect in many MLS circles to earn a nom — whether or not it’s deserved is up for debate. He’s up for Young Player of the Year as well, which he clearly deserves. Nine goals and 14 assists are seriously strong numbers and historic for a teenager.Newcomer of the Year. Three very deserving finalists, but perhaps Andre Luiz is clearly in a distant third. It’s likely Antoine Griezmann’s award to lose; the man was on fire the moment he put on an Orlando City kit. Orlando sat in 12th place at 4-9-2 on 14 points heading into the World Cup break, and what followed was 14 goals and eight assists from Griezmann, leading to a 9-5-5 record and 32 points to see them secure a postseason berth. Honorable mention goes to Guilherme, the man who literally did it for all for Houston, contributing to 60.5% of the team’s goals this season. Can we give him the not-Antoine Griezmann Newcomer of the Year award? |
| And then there were four, as two tense semifinal matchups take the pitch this weekend with a trip to the 2026 NWSL Championship on the line. |
| No. 7 Utah strives to keep its Cinderella story alive on Saturday, visiting a No. 3 Washington side hot off its 4-1 quarterfinal victory over No. 6 Portland.No. 4 Kansas City then takes on 2026 Shield winner No. 1 Gotham, aiming to avenge June’s Challenge Cup loss in Sunday’s high-stakes rematch. |
| Scouting report: Behind MVP candidate Trinity Rodman, the Spirit’s attack will test Royals keeper Mandy McGlynn’s postseason clean-sheet record, while the scrappy Current will have to get past Gotham’s lockdown defense. |
| “Going into playoffs, you have nothing to lose, you have to work your absolute hardest,” said Rodman. “When we do that off the first whistle, it’s really hard for any team to get any type of momentum.” (See full preview)“When you look around the team, there’s a lot of fighters,” KC manager Chris Armas said. “You have to be tough for playoffs.” (See full preview) |
| Tune in: The NWSL semifinals kick off tomorrow at 12 PM ET (CBS) |
Who could replace Mauricio Pochettino? Potential USMNT coaching candidates now that he’s left for Manchester United
Sean LeahyContributing writer Wed, November 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM EST·
The Mauricio Pochettino era with the U.S. men’s national team is seemingly over after 26 months and 35 matches in charge. The 54-year-old Argentine is reportedly close to leaving for Manchester United three months after signing an extension — with an exit clause — through the 2030 World Cup.Pochettino guided the USMNT to a Gold Cup final, Nations League semifinal and the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.Now as the USMNT begins Nations League play and prepares for the next World Cup cycle, the U.S. Soccer Federation is about to be in the market for a new men’s manager. The organization swung big ponying up to bring in Pochettino after Gregg Berhalter’s tenure. Will they turn to a familiar face or once again go big in their next hire?Here’s a look at some of the names that will likely be in the mix to replace Pochettino.
B.J. Callaghan
Here’s one familiar face. Callaghan has worked with the USMNT in the past. He was an assistant coach under Berhalter and was also interim manager between Berhalter’s two stints in charge. Callaghan managed seven matches and led the USMNT to the 2022-23 Nations League title. Callaghan, 45, signed a contract extension in February through the 2028-29 season and is currently preparing top-seeded Nashville SC for the MLS playoffs. He guided the club to the Supporters’ Shield this season, a year after winning the U.S. Open Cup.
Mikey Varas
Varas, like Callaghan, took charge of the USMNT between Berhalter’s two tenures. He managed two friendlies — a loss and a draw — as Pochettino was coming on board. The 43-year-old Varas was hired in 2021 as the U.S. U-20 head coach following his work in the academies of Sacramento Republic and FC Dallas. The team won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship for a third straight time under Varas in 2022 and later reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 U-20 World Cup. He was hired by San Diego FC in 2025 and helped the expansion side to the best record in the Western Conference, an appearance in the conference final and a berth into the CONCACAF Champions Cup. A focus on possession and a strong press has delivered Varas success as multiple levels.
Pellegrino Matarazzo
The 48-year-old Matarazzo has been a full-time manager in Germany with three different clubs and brought them each success. At Stuttgart, the side earned promotion to the Bundesliga in 2020. He would later help TSG Hoffenheim qualify for the Europa League during the 2023-24 season. Last year, he helped Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey title. With a similar pressing and counterattacking style, a move from Pochettino to the New Jersey-born Matarazzo could be a seamless transition in leadership and tactics. A candidate for the job before Pochettino was hired, Matarazzo told ESPN in April that he was “happy” with his current situation. Could that change if the national team job was a realistic possibility?
Thierry Henry
After a legendary domestic and international career, Henry has dipped his toes into the coaching ranks. Following his work in Arsenal’s youth system, Henry joined Roberto Martínez’s Belgium staff as an assistant as the Red Devils took third place at the 2018 World Cup. Three months later, he took the manager’s job at his old club Monaco. That stop was short-lived, however, as he was fired after just 20 matches. Henry would land in MLS with Montreal Impact in 2019 and help the club end a four-year playoff drought. In 2021, he rejoined Belgium’s coaching staff ahead of Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. Prior to the 2024 Olympics, he was named as manager of France’s U-21 team, which would end up winning a silver medal after a loss to Spain in the gold-medal game. Since leaving management in 2024, Henry has returned to doing media working with CBS Sports during its Champions League coverage and for Fox Sports as an analyst during the 2026 World Cup. Henry has previously expressed interest in the USMNT job. In 2023, he turned down the manager’s job of France’s women’s national team and was reportedly intent on being a candidate post-Berhalter.
Steve Cherundolo
At the moment, Cherundolo is the man in charge of the U.S. men’s U-23 team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.Following a long playing career in Germany and with the USMNT, Cherundolo got into coaching and eventually joined the national team staff as an assistant coach in 2018. He was later hired by LAFC in 2022 and helped the club win the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in his first season. He followed that up with a U.S. Open Cup title in 2024.It seemed set up that if Cherundolo helped the U.S. to a good result at the Olympics, the national team job could be next on his radar. Would the USSF consider altering its timeline with Pochettino moving on?
Pep Guardiola
If the USSF was willing to open its wallet to pay $6 million a year for Pochettino, surely it would take the same approach if Guardiola expressed interest. The former Manchester City boss has been enjoying his time away from management and is known for his love of spending time in the States.If the stress of day-to-day management at a massive club took its toll, would a national team job be more attractive to Guardiola?Guardiola, who won 12 league titles and three Champions Leagues among his numerous accolades with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, has spoken before about the potential of soccer in the U.S. and how development of young players and coaches should be a focus. If he’s in charge of the U.S. national team, how much influence would he want to have in reshaping the games at all levels?
- Mauricio Pochettino leaving USMNT for Manchester United just months after signing new deal
- Mauricio Pochettino will coach USMNT vs. Haiti despite looming Manchester United move
- U.S. Soccer withdraws from U-17 World Cup in Qatar over safety concerns amid Iran war, sources say
Other names of note
Julian Nagelsmann: The 39-year-old has national team experience having guided Germany at the 2024 Euros, 2025 Nations League and 2026 World Cup.
Roberto Martínez: Martínez’s last two coaching jobs were on the international stage, leading Belgium for 80 matches over six years and most recently Portugal for 45 matches over three years. He’s won a Nations League and helped Belgium finish third place at a World Cup.
Jesse Marsch: Once a consideration in 2022, let’s just say the former USMNT midfielder and assistant coach is fine where he is managing Canada. “Let me make it really clear: I never will coach the U.S. national team. Ever,” Marsch said in July.
| Go Big or Go Home? Breaking Down the Options for the Next USMNT Manager |
| By: Cat Bush |
| It’s all but official: the USMNT are in need of a new manager. After a saga that has seemingly lasted two years but in reality spans just three days, Mauricio Pochettino is headed to Manchester to succeed a now-sacked Michael Carrick. He leaves the national team he recommitted to just two months ago. When that second contract was signed, Pochettino himself stated a move to Tottenham wasn’t out of the realm of possibility, sending a clear signal the Argentine wasn’t planning on staying long in Atlanta. Why re-sign a man who clearly has two eyes on the door? Well, $10 million ain’t bad. If there was ever a club dumb enough to spend that much money on a manager who was essentially available a few months ago, it would be Manchester United, and this time, it’s the USSF that benefits. |
| Where the federation goes from here is uncertain. There are plenty of qualified candidates, but those in charge must decide what kind of coach they want at the helm. Will it be another Pochettino — a billionaire-funded superstar manager who commands international clout — or someone a little closer to home. The choices are fascinating, as are the tradeoffs. With four years to go before the 2030 World Cup, there’s no guarantee that another big-name manager would even be here by the time that tournament rolls around. The risk that they take flight and leave the USSF scrambling right before the World Cup kicks off isn’t nonexistent. The allure of such a manager, especially to the decision-makers at the federation, cannot be understated. Case in point, it seems those in charge are trying to call Pep Guardiola — good luck trying to get him to pick up. |
| In the meantime, the USMNT will need a caretaker or interim, with the consensus pick being Steve Cherundolo, who currently manages the U-23 side. Cherundolo, who is very familiar with the USSF, could be a stabilizing pick even beyond such an interim stint, if he does get the nod. As for current MLS managers, one man stands well above the rest. B.J. Callaghan, once a USMNT interim manager, is now a shield-winning coach at Nashville, and has one of the best resumes for the job. Ending on a high wouldn’t be a bad move for Callaghan, but will the USSF want to turn in a new direction? One last pick, who is currently without a club, is Wilfried Nancy. The accomplished coach flopped at Celtic — though Celtic was doing a good job of flopping before he got there — though he provides a mix of MLS and European experience that Cherundolo and Callaghan lack. All we know for sure is that the Pochettino experiment has ended and the question remains: will the USSF go big or go home? |
| Also head over to our YouTube page as Gass and Doyle break it all down in our latest episode of U.S. Soccerwise. They share their picks for the USMNT’s next coach. |
Manchester United target Mauricio Pochettino expected to coach USMNT games vs. Haiti
Pochettino is Manchester United’s chosen candidate should the decision be made to move on from Michael Carrick. Omar Vega / Getty Images
By Henry Bushnell, Paul Tenorio, Adam Crafton and Tom Bogert
Nov. 11, 2026
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Mauricio Pochettino is still expected to take charge of the U.S. men’s national team’s upcoming games against Haiti, even as he nears an agreement with Manchester United, multiple people briefed on current plans told The Athletic.As The Athletic first revealed on Wednesday, Pochettino is United’s chosen candidate to replace current head coach Michael Carrick should a change be made.Some sources pointed to the fluidity of the situation, but noted that U.S. Soccer does not have an easy way to replace Pochettino on such short notice ahead of games on Saturday and Tuesday. That the games are official, rather than friendly matches, makes the situation far more sensitive from U.S. Soccer’s perspective.The U.S. will play a “home-and-home” with Haiti in the Concacaf Nations League beginning Saturday in Miami. (Haiti’s home game was moved to the U.S. due to security issues at its home stadium.) The U.S. will then play Les Grenadiers on Tuesday in Cincinnati in the second leg of the series. The winner will advance to the Nations League semifinals in March.
Ahead of the first leg, Pochettino oversaw training on Wednesday at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center here in Georgia. In meetings with the team, as of Wednesday morning, he had not addressed the United situation, U.S. defender Chris Richards told The Athletic.
As he walked from an indoor area out to the training field, Pochettino greeted U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson and multiple players as he normally would. When he spoke to players and staff to open training, as he always does, his message was about the day’s session, the three Under-20 players who’d joined the group for the day, and other matters unrelated to United, a team spokesman said.
The latest on Man United’s pursuit of Pochettino
David Ornstein
“It’s kinda been business as usual here,” Richards said. He acknowledged that he and teammates had seen “all the reports and stuff,” but “we’ve just kept our head down. We’re training and playing like we don’t hear anything,” he said.“We’re training like he’s going to be the coach tomorrow, because we don’t know what’s gonna happen or what’s not gonna happen,” Richards added. “If you focus too much on what could happen, you won’t be able to really focus on what is happening.”If United were to insist Pochettino and his staff — assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeping coach Antonio Jimenez, strength and conditioning coach Silvia Tuya Vinas and sports scientist Sebastiano Pochettino — depart as soon as buyout terms are agreed, it would put U.S. Soccer leadership in a very difficult position.U.S. men’s Under-23 coach Steve Cherundolo, who was hired to oversee the 2028 Olympic team, is a natural interim option, and many expect him to oversee a December camp that will be made up of mostly domestic-based players since it is outside of a FIFA window. Cherundolo is currently leading the U-23 Olympic team camp in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain, however.If Pochettino were to depart this week, U.S. Soccer could conceivably fly Cherundolo back from Spain to oversee the rest of the senior team’s camp, with his staff continuing the U-23 camp without him.The U.S. under-20 team is also holding camp at the National Training Center outside of Atlanta, where the senior team is based. The current U.S. under-20 coach, Gonzalo Segares, a former Costa Rican international, could also be an interim option, but he has never coached at senior levels before.Henry Bushnell|Senior Writer, U.S. SoccerFollowPaul Tenorio|Senior Writer, MLS
| Keen Jaden asks: What is Poch’s legacy with the U.S.? How are we going to remember this guy — by his dictator shirt or for what he did to the squad? |
| Poch arrived as a symbol of such hope. A massive name, on a massive contract, with a reputation of being a brilliant culture builder. We truly believed he was the missing piece who could transform our team’s confidence levels by his very presence on the sideline. |
| In truth, he came. Saw. And realized he wanted to get back to England almost immediately. |
| On the field, he won no trophies. However, it was clear to everyone, all that mattered was the World Cup results. The truth was, despite the “Country Road” ecstasy of the Paraguay and Australia games, we ended up exactly in the same familiar dark underachieving place: a Round-of-16 exit, with the added scarlet letter of Balogun affair shame. |
| There was little in that performance, when stripped of the emotion, that warranted a second cycle, other than the fact that Poch was here, and neither he nor we could think of a better option. |
| He has done a reasonable job with the USMNT, but it has hardly been jaw-droppingly different. The salary and the reputation did not translate at all, and the surreal reality of him ditching us so quickly after signing anew and declaring, “Every time we sign a contract, it’s to go to the last day of the contract” will be the defining sour taste. |
| The strange coda of the last window is interesting — the 13 debuts, and green shoots of Cavan Sullivan, Justin Ellis and Julian Hall. They will be forever tied to Pochettino as a strange and potentially wonderful postscript. |
| D.D. Hall asks the big one: Who will replace Poch now? |
| Pep Guardiola is the pipe dream. I love the ambition. But it does feel in the same category of me wanting to be QB1 for the Chicago Bears. Would Pep really want to manage a team whose home games are packed with fans cheering for the road side? |
| He needed perfect conditions at Manchester City — we now know how “perfect” — but his demands for his staff and the entire infrastructure were enormous, and built on top of City’s peerless academy. Before that, Bayern, and before that, Barcelona. Global giants with massive facilities and the ability to cater to his every whim. |
| Is Pep really going to want to play away games in Honduras? And play home games against El Salvador in the U.S. where it feels like you are in San Salvador? |
| So… brace yourself. The USMNT do not play serious games again until March so this could drag on. As expected, Roberto Martínez has thrown his name into the ring. I love Roberto, but he is not for us. Steve Cherundolo is the U-23 coach and is in the mix because of adjacency. B.J. Callaghan has just had a magnificent season with Nashville and is beloved amongst the players. |
| U.S. Soccer often jackknife between global names and domestic managers who “know the American mindset.” If I was a betting man… it will be B.J. I spoke to a British agent yesterday who told me B.J. would be globally respected if his name was not B.J., which would never cut it in England. |
| Ozzie Brunswick asks: Is Poch really gonna manage two games for the U.S. now? Isn’t it super weird that he has not gone and been replaced by an interim? Maybe Carrick as interim? |
| This is definitely a mad situation. The two games against Haiti under lame-duck management are fairly unprecedented, like is there going to be a tribute to him after the second game? It is a bit like having your partner leave you, and then celebrating them before they ditch you for the love of another. |
| Little about the Poch era has been straight-line though. The friction with Christian Pulisic. The exiling of Yunus Musah and Tim Weah. The Tim Ream and Miles Robinson obsession. The Diego Luna obliteration. |
| There are a lot of players who have thrived under Poch who will miss him — Chris Richards, Malik Tillman and Flo Balogun amongst them. Haiti are a solid CONCACAF foe. Stripped of true quality, but a physical collective who can cock a fist. |
| I don’t know why he has not already left. Perhaps because there are no interims. Poch refused to bring an American coach onto his staff so the entire unit will depart with him. That lack of consistency is not great. It will also be fascinating to see if the players are going to play for him. I have heard that Poch is bouncing around camp ebulliently. |
| It will be fascinating to watch and listen to him, but there are enough plot lines of individuals who need to show out and have massive moments. Pulisic would love to show Poch that he was his big dog all along. Cavan Sullivan and the new kids on the block will seek to prove themselves to the veterans. Balogun, who has barely played since the World Cup, needs to prove himself to himself. All I know is… I cannot wait to watch this humanly, as well as from a football POV. |
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