Pep Guardiola is edging closer to stepping away from Manchester City after a decade that reshaped modern football.
As speculation grows about what comes next for one of the game’s most influential managers, former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas has suggested that U.S. Soccer should not hesitate to reach out to Guardiola about potentially leading the United States men’s national team after the 2026 World Cup cycle.
Lalas believes the mere chance of Guardiola being available is enough reason for the federation to make contact. In his eyes, ignoring someone of that caliber would be a missed opportunity, even if the outcome is ultimately a rejection.
Speaking on his State of the Union podcast, Lalas said it would be “dumb” not to at least make the call if Guardiola becomes open to international management.
“If Pep Guardiola is available, and he’s open to it, you would be dumb not to take that call and sit down and to see how he thinks about these things,” Lalas said.
“You absolutely make that call. You may even get that call. I mean, we know Pep famously took a sabbatical. Where did he go? Went to the United States. It might appeal to him.”
The post-Pochettino picture and what could come next
The USMNT is currently under the leadership of Mauricio Pochettino, who is guiding preparations toward the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Expectations are high, with the tournament seen as a defining moment for the program’s long-term growth.
However, Lalas speculates that once the cycle ends, Pochettino could attract offers from top clubs across Europe, potentially opening the door for a managerial reset in the U.S. setup.
That’s where Guardiola’s name enters the conversation. Lalas argues that while the idea is ambitious, it aligns with the growing ambition of U.S. Soccer as the sport continues to expand in the country.
Still, he acknowledged a major challenge: Guardiola has built his career at the very top of club football, working with elite squads capable of executing his detailed tactical systems.
Translating that approach to an international team, where players are gathered intermittently and depth is more limited, would be a completely different task.
“For all of [Guardiola’s] success, and all of his intelligence when it comes to the game, he still has to apply it to a very, very different scenario, both in terms of being international, but also in terms of being a lesser team relative to the elites,” Lalas added.
“And Pep has established his greatness, making great teams that much greater. And the U.S. is not a great team.”
Even with those questions, Lalas insists the upside is too significant to ignore. He argues that conversations like this would show ambition within U.S. Soccer to elevate its standing on the global stage.
Whether or not Guardiola would ever say yes is uncertain, but Lalas maintains that a program aiming to grow into a genuine football power shouldn’t shy away from exploring every possibility.
Leave a Reply