Could USA get Guardiola or Klopp as manager before 2026 World Cup?

Former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, who worked for the Red Bull group in New York, Salzburg and Leipzig, would have been a strong contender were it not for the fact he was named Canada coach in May on a contract that runs to the 2026 World Cup Canada will co-host with the USA and Mexico.

Canada have reached the Copa America quarter-finals, where they will play Venezuela, having progressed from a group that included three South American sides in Argentina, Chile and Peru.

LAFC are currently top of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer, having reached the previous two finals. They are coached by Steve Cherundolo, a former USA World Cup player who said in 2020 he would ‘love’ to coach the national team.

But there are some who feel Crocker should look much further afield.

“A big name is what has been missing,” says Lahoud. “Our exposure to the game comes from the Premier League and the rest of Europe. Why not make a big splash and go for it?

“These players need to be pushed and have someone they respect, someone who can take them to the next level. US Soccer has the funds to go after a person like that.”

Guardiola is top of the wishlist for most managerial vacancies, and a ‘glamour’ job in the USA looks attractive on paper.

Whilst it seems unlikely Guardiola would quit Manchester City before his contract ends in 2025, he has already said he is unlikely to stay on beyond that.

Klopp is taking a break from the game after leaving Liverpool while Pochettino and Tuchel are both without a club, so all three can be deemed available right now, but they would all demand an annual salary significantly more than $3m (£2.37m).

With the biggest two international tournaments outside the World Cup currently taking place, it would be usual for more big names to become available as they leave their present positions.

Lahoud is clear about how he would approach the situation if he was in Crocker’s shoes.

“It is pulling at the heart strings with any of those big names,” he said. “The most respected managers are looking towards legacy.

“Where have they not been? It is an interesting project. USA is one of the last frontiers when it comes to developing the game. Can you make a statement? That would be my play.”