Southgate tipped to replace Pochettino as USMNT coach after England axe Tuchel

Gareth Southgate has been identified as a potential replacement for Mauricio Pochettino as United States head coach, with ESPN tipping the former England manager for the role just hours after England moved to dismiss Thomas Tuchel following their own World Cup exit.

Pochettino’s position is under serious threat after the USMNT were beaten 4-1 by Belgium in the Round of 16, a result that ended the host nation’s tournament on home soil. His contract is due to expire this summer, and speculation over his future has intensified following reports linking him with a return to club management in Europe.

Southgate, 55, has been out of management since stepping down as England boss after their defeat in the Euro 2024 final — a tenure of almost eight years that included a World Cup semi-final, a quarter-final, and back-to-back European Championship finals. Despite never delivering a major trophy, he is widely credited with restoring England’s standing among international football’s elite.

ESPN senior editor Caitlin Murray made the case for Southgate on the basis of his proven international pedigree. “The USMNT needs a manager with a proven track record on the international level and in tournament soccer,” she wrote. “On that basis, Southgate warrants a look.”

Murray also questioned the broader trend of club coaches moving into international management, pointing to mixed results from the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Julian Nagelsmann, Ralf Rangnick, and Pochettino himself. “The international game — especially an eight-game tournament — just doesn’t work the same way as the 30-plus-game season of a club game,” she noted.

Pochettino, speaking after the Belgium defeat, declined to address his future directly. “Now is not a moment to talk about that,” he said. “I think now is a moment to see, to assess the tournament. I’m sure in the next weeks we can start to talk if [U.S. Soccer] wants to talk.”

With the United States set to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, the USMNT’s next managerial appointment carries significant long-term weight. Whether Southgate emerges as a genuine contender will likely depend on how quickly U.S. Soccer moves to resolve Pochettino’s situation.