The US Soccer Federation has the herculean task of finding a new head coach to prepare the team for the US-hosted 2026 FIFA World Cup. They started their coach hunt after sacking Gregg Berhalter on July 10, following an abysmal run in Copa America. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp initially emerged as a favorite, but he soon rejected the offer from the US camp. Now, Patrick Vieira is the top target for US Soccer, having left his coaching job at the French league’s Strasbourg. Vieira’s former teammate Thierry Henry is also heavily linked to the job.

Is it just these two veteran Frenchmen in contention? No. The USSF technical director Matt Crocker has a few other ace managers on his list. Let’s see who are the top five candidates to replace Gregg Berhalter in the American camp.

Patrick Vieira and the other four top candidates for the USMNT job

Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira has been interested in coaching USMNT since last year. He closely follows the team and envisions carrying them into the 2026 FIFA World Cup- a vital event for the USSF. The Arsenal legend recently said that he was keen on joining the USMNT, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. Vieira’s admission, notably, came only two days after he left Strasbourg prematurely. Certain reports also suggest that the USSF and the Frenchman have begun negotiations. Vieira, however, has not coached an international side before and has not won a major trophy, including any league title.

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry has also been heavily linked to the USMNT role after Gregg Berhalter’s exit. Henry’s managerial experience primarily comprises a forgetful stint with the French club Monaco and a decent MLS run with the Montreal Impact. However, he has got sufficient international exposure under his belt. The legendary Arsenal striker is currently prepping France’s U-23 team for the Paris Olympics. Moreover, he was assistant to Roberto Martinez when the latter was the head coach of the Belgium national team.

Steve Cherundolo

Cherundolo is arguably the strongest domestic candidate to don the USMNT boss’ hat. He is one of the few MLS managers who have represented the USMNT in the World Cup, making him a viable option to prep the US stars for 2026. Besides, his stint in the Los Angeles FC is one for the books. The 45-year-old led LAFC to four MLS Cup finals and won the silverware once in 2022. Let’s see if the USSF gets impressed by Cherundolo’s stellar resume.

Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate left the England coaching role three days back, after losing the Euro final against Spain. He soon found himself on the US Soccer’s radar. Southgate has a wealth of experience in international football, as he has taken the England team deep into many major tournaments. His unparalleled feats with the Three Lions include a World Cup semi-final appearance in 2018 and two consecutive Euro final appearances in 2021 and 2024.

Mauricio Pochettino

Media reports from Argentina and England suggest that the USSF is interested in pursuing former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine, notably, led Tottenham Hotspur to a UEFA Champions League final. He joined Chelsea only after powering PSG to back-to-back league victories in 2021 and 2022. Pochettino, incidentally, is also linked to England’s coaching job after Southgate stepped down.

Regarding the new coach’s hiring, USSF’s technical director Matt Crocker said that he would settle things before the USMNT’s September friendlies. This means the USSF could take more time to find the right man for the job. Perhaps more star coaches will find themselves on the US Soccer’s radar. Who do you think is best for the job? Is it Patrick Vieira or one of the other four? Tell us in the comments.