Guardiola's Conditions for Coaching the United States

Pep Guardiola is the main candidate of the United States Football Federation to replace Mauricio Pochettino if the Argentine ends up signing with Manchester United. This possibility has gained traction on November 12, 2026 with the dismissal of Michael Carrick, although hiring the Catalan coach will depend on his willingness to return to coaching and the conditions he can negotiate with the federation.

The operation is not yet in the formal negotiation phase. According to information published by The Athletic and reported by several U.S. media, the federation's first option would be to contact Guardiola to gauge his availability.

Pep Guardiola, the chosen one by the United States if Pochettino leaves

The possible departure of Mauricio Pochettino has forced the United States to explore alternatives for the coaching position of its national team. The Argentine has a contractual agreement with the federation until 2030, but Manchester United has made progress in securing his appointment following the dismissal of Michael Carrick, confirmed on Thursday.

The interest in Guardiola is not a last-minute occurrence. According to information from The Athletic, the name of the Spanish coach has already been discussed at various levels of the U.S. Soccer hiring structure. The federation considers him its priority target if it needs to fill the vacancy.

The precedent also plays in favor of this possibility: Guardiola was among the candidates during the selection process in 2024, when the United States ultimately opted for Pochettino. Therefore, there is a precedent of interest between both parties, although this does not mean that the coach has accepted to lead the national team.

🚨 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Pep Guardiola is expected to be the 𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 to become the new USA manager, according to @TheAthleticFC 😲🇺🇸 Guardiola's name has been discussed internally at multiple levels of the federation's hiring process, the report says. 🗞️ With Mauricio Pochettino set to leave for Man United, the federation would look to lure Guardiola into international management. 👔 Guardiola has held talks with the US federation in the past and has long been intrigued by the prospect of working in America. 💬 He is also familiar with life in the United States, having lived in New York City during a year-long sabbatical after leaving Barcelona in 2012. 🏡 Earlier this year, Guardiola turned down the Italy job, reportedly telling them he wanted more time off for family reasons. Maybe he would now be open to a new challenge... 👀

— 433 (@433) November 11, 2026

Guardiola's conditions: rest, salary, and project control

The first condition that could complicate the operation is the personal moment of the coach. Guardiola, 55 years old, left Manchester City at the end of the 2025/26 season after ten years in charge and communicated his intention to take a break before accepting another challenge.

This approach already had consequences during the summer. The Italian Federation contacted him to offer the senior national team, but the coach rejected the proposal because he wanted to spend time with his family and step away from football temporarily. This was confirmed by the ANSA agency on July 24.

The financial aspect could also represent an obstacle. During conversations with Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Guardiola's salary expectations were around 20 million euros annually, compared to a federation offer close to 10 million. This is a reference from his previous negotiation, not a confirmed figure for a potential contract with the United States.

On the sporting side, the project would also hold significance. Guardiola has shown interest in working in the United States and had already expressed in 2024 that he saw possibilities for developing a long-term football program in the country.

The structure of the federation could be another argument. When it hired Pochettino, U.S. Soccer expanded the scope of the coaching staff's work to have influence in other men's categories and in the development of young players. This model fits with the idea of a project that goes beyond preparing the senior national team's matches. However, there is no record that Guardiola has formally required that level of involvement.

The United States needs to convince Guardiola to start a new phase

The U.S. Federation has an argument that could facilitate contacts: Guardiola already knows of the interest in incorporating him into the project. U.S. Soccer contacted him during the selection process for 2024, in which Jürgen Klopp was also mentioned, before opting for Pochettino.

Additionally, his relationship with Sunil Gulati, former president of the federation, has served as a connection point in previous approaches. The Catalan coach also lived in New York during his sabbatical year following his departure from Barcelona in 2012.

The calendar allows room for negotiation. The United States has its next official commitments scheduled for March 2027, after the matches of the CONCACAF Nations League against Haiti. Thus, the federation would have several months to find a replacement if Pochettino's departure is confirmed.

The next step will be to check if Guardiola is willing to interrupt his break to take on a national team. The United States considers him its first option, but there is still no known formal offer or agreed conditions. The federation's priority will be to make contact and find out what Pep Guardiola would need to accept the position.