What happened: Michael Carrick and his coaching staff have departed Carrington after Manchester United informed them of the decision to part company. The dismissal clears the way for United to initiate formal contact with U.S. Soccer to secure Mauricio Pochettino as the club's next manager.

Why it matters: Appointing Pochettino requires buying out his national team contract, which carries a financial threshold north of $10 million when accounting for his incoming backroom staff. The managerial change ends Carrick's tenure at Old Trafford while positioning United to finalize leadership ahead of the second half of the European campaign.

What to watch: Pochettino is scheduled to oversee the upcoming USMNT matches against Haiti over the next week before any appointment is finalized.