There`s speculation that Carlo Ancelotti might become Brazil`s coach this summer. This comes after Brazil dismissed their head coach, Dorival Junior, following a significant 4-1 defeat to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier. The idea of Ancelotti managing Brazil first arose in early 2023, but he renewed his contract with Real Madrid at that time.
Brazil is still considering hiring a highly decorated manager like Ancelotti. It would be somewhat unusual, as Brazil typically hires Brazilian coaches. Historically, only three non-Brazilians have managed the national team, and all of Brazil`s World Cup victories have been under Brazilian coaches. It`s often assumed that national teams should be managed by coaches from their own country. However, recent examples like Thomas Tuchel potentially for England and Mauricio Pochettino for the USMNT show that federations are open to looking internationally for top coaching talent to achieve greater success.
With many national team coaching positions currently filled, let`s consider some ideal European manager pairings for USA, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay:
Argentina: Pep Guardiola
Lionel Scaloni has achieved remarkable success with Argentina, winning the Copa America in both 2021 and 2024, and most notably the 2022 World Cup against France. Despite considering leaving his position in 2023, Scaloni is currently committed and will lead Argentina to the 2026 World Cup.
Pep Guardiola`s contract with Manchester City runs until the summer of 2027. He has previously expressed interest in managing a national team at some point in his career, perhaps before retiring. While reuniting Guardiola with Lionel Messi might be unlikely due to Messi`s age, Guardiola is one of the few managers who could effectively replace a successful coach like Scaloni and maintain Argentina`s winning momentum. A significant advantage of Guardiola would be his native Spanish language, eliminating any language barrier, which is often a concern in national team management. The image of Guardiola coaching Argentina in Buenos Aires would be iconic.
United States: Jose Mourinho
If we`re discussing potential coaches, Jose Mourinho should be included. He was reportedly close to managing Portugal in January 2023 but chose to remain with AS Roma, having recently won the UEFA Conference League in 2022. Mourinho has a long-standing connection with the United States, often choosing UCLA for preseason training camps during his time at Chelsea and Inter. For the USMNT, Mourinho`s task would be similar to his role at Roma – elevating the team to a higher level. While Pochettino is currently in charge and preparing for the World Cup, a disappointing performance, such as a group-stage exit, could lead to changes.
Mexico: Mikel Arteta
Mexico, as a co-host of the 2026 World Cup, needs to make significant progress. Current manager Javier Aguirre has had a positive start, winning the Concacaf Nations League. However, considering European coaches, Mikel Arteta of Arsenal would be an excellent fit. Arteta is a young coach with strong tactical ideas and a focus on developing younger players, which aligns well with Mexico`s long-term needs.
Brazil: Jurgen Klopp
While Carlo Ancelotti is Brazil`s primary target, Jurgen Klopp presents another compelling European option. Brazil requires an experienced manager capable of handling a team with numerous stars and emerging talents. Klopp, after leaving Liverpool last year, became the head of global soccer for the Red Bull Group, which includes the Brazilian club Red Bull Bragantino. Klopp was considered for the German national team job, and some reports suggested a clause in his Red Bull contract would allow him to leave for that role, although Red Bull has denied this. If Klopp returns to management, it seems more probable that it would be with a national team rather than a club.
Dominic Ashworth