A reported meeting between the U.S. Soccer Federation and FC Dallas manager Oscar Pareja did not take place, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
According to a report from Al Dia, Pareja met with USSF representatives last weekend in Vancouver, where FCD was taking on the Vancouver Whitecaps. But the source indicated that no such meeting took place.
Yahoo Sports was the first to report that the meeting did not occur.
U.S. men’s national team GM Earnie Stewart was spotted in Columbus last weekend during the Columbus Crew’s 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids. Crew manager Gregg Berhalter is widely viewed as being among the favorites to land the job.
A USSF spokesperson declined to comment on the Al Dia report, stating, “We are continuing the policy of not commenting on individual candidates during the process.”
An FC Dallas spokesperson, speaking on behalf of FCD president Dan Hunt, said, “The entire FC Dallas organization, including Oscar Pareja and his coaching staff, is solely focused on finishing the MLS regular season strong and putting us in the best position possible for a long playoff run.”
A U.S. Soccer Federation spokesperson did confirm to ESPN FC that Stewart, Chief Soccer Officer Ryan Mooney, and Chief Sport Development Officer Nico Romeijn conducted a conference call last week with the technical sub-committee of the USSF’s Board of Directors.
One source indicated that during the call Stewart put the number of finalists at six, though the former U.S. international didn’t divulge any names. A second source later stated that the number had since been reduced by an undisclosed amount.
The position has been vacant since last October when Bruce Arena resigned following the team’s 2-1 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago that knocked the U.S. out of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
Since then, Dave Sarachan has managed the team on a caretaker basis. Stewart is expected to make a decision in the November timeframe.