Pineda, 38, spoke with chief executive Jason Levien, said two of those people, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to comment on the matter.
“He is a serious candidate,” one person said, adding United is “still speaking with others.”
Pineda, a former Seattle and Mexican national team midfielder, has been a Sounders assistant for four seasons. Last month, the Sounders granted United permission to interview him, but because of Seattle’s participation in the playoffs, he was preoccupied until the MLS Cup defeat to Columbus this past Sunday.
United officials said they did not want to comment on the search, other than to say they aim to hire someone this month.