USMNT coaching search: 3 dream candidates

The USMNT coaching search has dragged on and the longer we go without a hire, the easier it is to fantasize about dream candidates.

U.S. Soccer is taking its time with the appointment of the next head coach for the USMNT. Since Gregg Berhalter’s departure the Stars and Stripes are now on their second interim manager after B.J. Callaghan replaced Anthony Hudson. There has not been much inclination as to who will be leading the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup, so here are three dream candidates for the job.

USMNT coaching search: Jesse Marsch

Appointing an American coach is logical as every team that has won the World Cup has done it with a native manager. Jesse Marsch is regarded as America’s best head coach at the moment despite being on the back of an unsuccessful spell at Leeds United.

Marsch has coached at the highest level in Europe with experiences in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Austrian Bundesliga. He has also worked as assistant manager to Bob Bradley with the USMNT where he went to the 2010 World Cup. However, he still seems committed to the club game and has recently been linked with Celtic and AS Monaco.

USMNT coaching search: Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is a serial winner and has delivered trophies to clubs including Chelsea, Inter Milan Real Madrid and Manchester United. He is currently the manager at A.S. Roma where he appeared to indicate that he was staying after their Europa League final defeat to Sevilla. However, he has since been linked with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.

Mourinho has been linked with taking over Portugal and the USMNT in the past. His defensive style of play is not favourable to everyone but there is no doubt that he can get results in tournaments. U.S. Soccer will be looking to get a head coach who can get the side to the latter stages of the World Cup in 2026. Mourinho has got Roma to two European finals in the last two years and would no doubt make the USA into a side that is difficult to beat.

USMNT coaching search: Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has recently won the Champions League to complete the treble with Manchester City this season. He is widely regarded as the best coach of all time and would be the dream candidate. His contract with City expires in 2025 which gives him a year to work with the USMNT ahead of the World Cup.

Guardiola has also only managed the very best teams, with the only two other clubs he has coached being Barcelona and Bayern Munich. It would certainly be interesting to see what he could do with the USMNT but it will likely remain just a fantasy.

Who will the USMNT end up with?

American coaches such as Jim Curtin and Steve Cherundolo have been linked with the job. They have been successful in MLS but with the USMNT side being predominantly made up of European-based players, it would be wiser to choose a coach who has experience on the continent.

What you would ideally need is someone with a mix of experience in Europe and America, Jesse Marsch, fits this mold. However, it remains to be seen if U.S. Soccer can pry him away from European club soccer.