Is there another twist in the tale for USMNT? After a series of tough times and the sacking of Gregg Berhalter from the manager’s post, the unit finally saw respite as former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was expected to replace him. But it now appears that the English club has turned out to be a thorn in their flesh as the USA could face a further delay in the arrival of a high-profile manager. On the other hand, it will have to settle for another manager as time slips out of their hands for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to the latest reports, the Argentine manager is only anticipated to join the Stars and Stripes in October in case the agreement between USA and him goes forward. A USMNT fan and news account on X (previously Twitter) reported the news and stated that his exit situation with Chelsea is the main reason for the delay which will hamper the team’s upcoming international fixtures in the September break.

Meanwhile, the former Ligue 1 winning manager still does not appear to be free from his tie with the London-based club. Although he was sacked after the conclusion of last season by Chelsea owner and chairman Todd Boehly, the club still owes him a chunk of money that will not allow him to sign a new deal with another party.

The unresolved situation with Chelsea will reportedly be cracked if Pochettino receives the rest of the money which is around $13 million. The Argentine signed a two-year contract but was dismissed within a year as the team finished outside the European Championships for the second consecutive time. However, the team may still be obligated to pay him the due as he was removed for sporting reasons which could be lost if he signs for the team immediately. On the other hand, US Soccer has made a few provisions till the issue gets sorted from Mauricio Pochettino’s front.

Youth coach Mikey Varas to manage USMNT as Pochettino deal still hangs in the balance

While reports indicate a verbal agreement between US Soccer and Mauricio Pochettino, no official deal has been confirmed. As per a report by the Athletic, the USMNT has hired Mikey Varas to coach them until Pochettino arrives in the USA. He previously worked with the Under20 team from 2021 to 2023 and helped the men’s team qualify for the 2024 Olympics after winning the 2022 CONCACAF Championships and later took them to the quarterfinal of the Under20 World Cup last year. While the assignment doesn’t seem to be a big one, his couple of months will prove to be a major assessment of the team before the former Chelsea manager takes over.

USMNT will play Canada and New Zealand on the 7th and the 10th of September respectively and will hope to prove a point after crashing out of the 2024 Copa America in the group stages. On the other hand, Canada led by Jesse Marsch who rejected the role of handling the USMNT reached the semifinals of the tournament gaining praise from the supporters. As the Stars and Stripes embark on an adventurous yet uncomfortable journey for the next two years, how they deal with such challenges will prove crucial as they head towards the FIFA World Cup 2026.