Real life “Ted Lasso”: USMNT fans want this (American) football coach to be the next USMNT HC

In the aftermath of the USMNT’s disappointing 2026 World Cup exit, fans aren’t just debating tactics or players. They’re dreaming big, and in some cases, thinking completely outside the box. The latest idea gaining traction is to hire a college football coach with zero professional soccer experience.

At the center of it all is Curt Cignetti, and a growing number of fans who believe he could be the unlikely answer to the national team’s ongoing identity crisis.

How Curt Cignetti entered the USMNT conversation

The buzz began on Reddit, where a thread discussing potential replacements for current USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino took an unexpected turn. Among the usual names (experienced soccer coaches with international pedigrees), one stood out.

Cignetti.

The suggestion quickly snowballed. Replies ranged from half-serious endorsements to full-blown comparisons to Ted Lasso, the fictional American football coach hired to manage a struggling English soccer club. Some fans joked about “Ted Lasso-ing this thing”, while others described Cignetti as a “psycho and a genius”, the kind of personality they believe could shake up a stagnant program.

Who is Curt Cignetti?

For those unfamiliar with the name, Cignetti is one of the most respected coaches in American college football. He rose to national prominence after taking over the Indiana Hoosiers football program and orchestrating a dramatic turnaround. Known for his no-nonsense attitude and obsessive attention to detail, Cignetti has built a reputation as a culture-setter, someone who can transform losing environments into disciplined, competitive teams.

Before Indiana, he found success at multiple programs, consistently improving win records and instilling a strong identity. He wins. And he does it his way.

The suggestion may be a joke at first, but the underlying sentiment is more serious. USMNT fans are frustrated, not just with results, but with the mentality. The loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 exposed issues around resilience, leadership, and intensity.

That’s where the appeal of someone like Cignetti comes in. He’s known for demanding high standards and mental toughness. His teams are typically disciplined and hard to break. Plus, fans see him as someone who could reshape the team’s mindset

The comparison to Ted Lasso is inevitable, but it only goes so far. In the show, an American football coach succeeds in soccer largely through emotional intelligence and leadership, eventually learning the sport along the way.

Real life is far less forgiving. Managing an international soccer team requires deep tactical knowledge, familiarity with global players, and experience at the highest level of the game. Those are areas where Cignetti, for all his success, has no track record.

Even fans pushing the idea acknowledge the gap, with some joking that the USMNT might need a “Mean Ted Lasso” instead, someone tougher, harsher, and less sentimental.

What this says about the USMNT moment

In practical terms, this would almost certainly never actually happen. National teams don’t hire outside their sport at this level, and the USMNT is unlikely to take that kind of risk, especially with its player pool entering what should be its prime years.

But whether the suggestion is serious or not, the Cignetti movement reveals something important about where the USMNT stands. The fanbase is searching for answers, and increasingly open to unconventional ones. The program has talent. It has resources. But after another early exit on home soil, belief in the current trajectory has taken a hit. And when that happens, even the most unlikely ideas can start to feel appealing.

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