Austin FC Lands Lauded Coach Jim Curtin for 2027

Jim Curtin along the sidelines as head coach of the Philadelphia Union in 2019 Credit: Morgan Tencza, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

There will finally be some proven, winning know-how in the Austin FC technical area next season. The club this week announced the hire of former Philadelphia Union mastermind Jim Curtin to be the Verde and Black’s third permanent head coach.

Curtin, a former MLS All-Star center back, helmed the Union from 2014 to 2024. In that decade, he led Philadelphia to the playoffs seven times, captured the 2020 Supporters’ Shield for the league’s best regular season record, and reached the MLS Cup Final in 2022 – a six-goal instant classic that went LAFC’s way in a penalty shootout. He is also a two-time MLS Coach of the Year, and was inexplicably fired following the 2024 season after missing the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

And since that day, his name has been on just about every shortlist for MLS coaching vacancies (and even got some USMNT speculation at one point). Simply put, this is an absolute no-brainer hire by Anthony Precourt and ATX ownership.

“While there were many different options during the last year, I’m incredibly happy I had patience and waited, and this opportunity came to me,” Curtin said in a video press conference on Tuesday.

Part of the appeal, per Curtin, was Austin FC’s willingness to wait until after the end of the 2026 season for him to fully take the reins. Among other reasons, Curtin revealed that his father is in an ongoing battle with cancer, and, “to have this time with him, I think, still is really important.”

In the meantime, ATXFC will stick with interim coach Davy Arnaud for the remainder of 2026 while Curtin watches closely from afar, and also advises on the club’s continued search for a sporting director.

Mouthwatering World Cup Week 1 Matches to Watch

It’s been an agonizing eight-year wait since FIFA awarded the United States, Canada, and Mexico the shared right to host the 2026 men’s World Cup, but that wait is finally over. We are full go for launch.

As a consequence of FIFA’s expanded, 48-team tournament, in which two-thirds of competing nations will qualify for the knockout stage, we’ve lost some of the drama and urgency that traditionally defines the group stage. But there are still a handful of watch-party-worthy matchups across the opening week as the tournament hits its stride.

The first comes Friday night (June 12) at 8pm CT when Team USA takes on Paraguay in a crucial opening game. As one of the host nations, the U.S. was given a relatively favorable draw in Group D. Topping the group is certainly on the table, but only with a win off the bat. A loss, and suddenly the threat of group stage elimination – an epic disaster – becomes way too real.

Saturday delivers the first true heavyweight slugfest of the tournament when five-time champs Brazil take on 2022 semifinalists Morocco at 5pm. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the best of Brazil, but Carlo Ancelotti’s squad might actually be flying a bit under the radar this summer. We’ll learn how serious Neymar and company are based on how they handle a talented, balanced, and experienced Morocco.

Similarly, France will eliminate any doubt about their status as favorites if they successfully navigate a formidable Senegal – a former French colony – Tuesday at 2pm. Some history to watch for: French superstar Kylian Mbappé, still just 27, is only four goals shy of tying Miroslav Klose’s record for most career World Cup goals.

Finally, Wednesday’s 3pm clash between England and Croatia in Arlington is a dream matchup between European heavyweights that will likely decide Group L’s winner.

For more Austin FC news and analysis, visit The Austin Chronicle’s Austin FC hub. Sign up for The Verde Report newsletter to get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox, and follow The Verde Report columnist Eric Goodman on X: @goodman.

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