The next time the USMNT takes the field in September, the Stars and Stripes will be led by Mikey Varas.
The U.S. Men’s National Team had a chaotic, disappointing summer. Despite high expectations, the Stars and Stripes crashed out of Copa America 2024 in the group stage with their most talented team in years, on home soil no less. The USMNT suffered defeats to Panama and Uruguay to knock them out of the tournament, ending their short campaign after just three games.
The one silver lining for most fans to come out of the embarrassing display was the USA’s decision to finally part ways with Gregg Berhalter. Although plenty of names have been tossed out as his replacement, including Mauricio Pochettino and Thierry Henry, U.S. Soccer has yet to name a new head coach.
As the search continues, the USA must at least name an interim head coach with two international friendlies on the horizon in September, and it looks like Mikey Varas is the guy for the job.
Some other news tucked in here.
Even if a hire is made ahead of the September window, U.S. U-20 coach Mikey Varas is expected to lead the senior team in those friendlies, according to sources. https://t.co/kzrHCOlQq7
— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) August 8, 2024
Before Mikey Varas began climbing the U.S. soccer coaching ranks, he played the sport at the University of San Francisco and then represented the CD Santiago Wanderers in Chile for a season. The San Francisco native would hang up his boots, though, in favor for a future in coaching soon after.
Varas’ early resume includes various coaching positions throughout California that all led to his position as the U-14 coach at the Sacramento Republic Academy in 2016. In just one year, Varas was named the U.S. Soccer Development Academy West Conference U-14 Coach of the Year.
The manager would go on to join FC Dallas in 2017 as the U-16’s head coach. After two years with the up and coming talent, Varas was eventually promoted to an assistant coach for FC Dallas under Luchi Gonzalez in 2019, and helped the former manager lead the Toros to two consecutive MLS Cup playoffs.
The highlight of his career so far, though, is his work with the USA’s U-20 team. Varas became the squad’s head coach in 2021 and just one year later, led them to their third Concacaf U-20 Championship. Varas failed to replicate his success in the 2023 U-20 World Cup, though, where the USA made a quarter-finals exit.
Now, more eyes will be on Varas than ever before as the world watches how the USMNT, under his leadership, will bounce back from Copa America 2024 in their upcoming friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.
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