Could Pep Guardiola coach the USMNT? Analyzing Mauricio Pochettino, Pellegrino Matarazzo and the star-studded candidates for the 2030 World Cup cycle

Mauricio Pochettino is at the center of debate as U.S. Soccer starts planning for the 2030 World Cup cycle, raising the question of whether Pep Guardiola could even be an option in the future. The discussion follows the USMNT’s World Cup elimination after a 4-1 loss to Belgium, with federation and staff emphasizing rest and reflection and delaying decisions on what comes next. Even a week after the exit, the team’s coaching situation remains unclear. Pochettino’s contract ends this summer, and when he signed in 2024, it was for this World Cup cycle only, despite talks about an extension. The article also weighs the tradeoffs of a potential four-year commitment through 2030 and lists other candidate profiles, including BJ Callaghan, while noting the search may or may not happen.