It starts, as most things do, with undercover whispers. A phone call here, an “unnamed source” there.
Conversations skitter across continents; rumors spread. Before anyone can really say how or why it’s happened, Mauricio Pochettino is being linked to Manchester United and that sinking ship post is being breathlessly pitched as the opportunity of a lifetime. It starts with undercover whispers, but it ends with widespread foolishness.
The United States Men’s National Team is preparing for its first competitive matches since the 2026 World Cup, and it’s doing so under a needless cloud of controversy after reports emerged connecting its coach Mauricio Pochettino to a position at Manchester United that is —it must be said — not even currently available. (Spare a thought for current United coach Michael Carrick, who must be weathering this same storm with a fair bit of indignation.)
The rumors circulating claim that Pochettino is one of United’s top picks for its head-coaching position if it decides to part ways with Carrick, and they also claim that Pochettino has spoken with United about the opportunity.
It’s reasonable to assume that both things are true. It isn’t reasonable to take that truth and turn it into needless panic about the state of the USMNT. Pochettino isn’t disloyal because he’s a top candidate for other coaching positions, and the USMNT coaching position isn’t an unattractive one because other posts are sometimes available.
“Similar things happened in the past, after the World Cup, where huge teams lose their manager and they start looking at possible candidates,” said USMNT defender Antonee Robinson of the rumors.
“For us to have a manager who’s linked with those sorts of jobs means we’re very lucky we’re working with a top-level manager.”
He’s right. Pochettino’s United links aren’t a warning sign for the USMNT: they’re proof that the team is working with a genuine star. Yes, Pochettino is a wanted man across global soccer. But the USMNT head-coaching position he occupies is a wanted post, too — and will remain so whether Pochettino stays or goes.
