Gregg Berhalter has been dismissed from his role as the U.S. men’s soccer coach, ending his second stint just 10 months in. This decision comes in the wake of the U.S. team’s early exit from the Copa America, which raised significant doubts about his capability to lead the team forward.
In a statement, Berhalter expressed his disappointment with the Copa America results, taking full responsibility for the team’s performance. He emphasized that his focus had always been on preparing for the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host. Despite the setback, he remains confident in the potential of the team for the upcoming World Cup.
Berhalter’s second stint started with a promising 2-0 win over Bolivia in the Copa America but quickly unraveled with a 2-1 loss to Panama, where the U.S. played most of the match with 10 men due to Tim Weah’s ejection, followed by a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay, leading to their elimination. This left Berhalter with an overall record of 44 wins, 17 losses, and 13 draws in his tenure.
Sporting director Matt Crocker, who rehired Berhalter, will now be responsible for finding a new coach to lead the team into the 2026 World Cup. The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) is already in search of a replacement, with names like Jürgen Klopp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Marcelo Bielsa, Jesse Marsch, and others being speculated as potential candidates.
Salary considerations could play a significant role in the decision, especially given Berhalter’s earnings in 2022, which included substantial bonuses for World Cup qualification. There is also the matter of maintaining equity in salaries with the newly hired women’s coach, Emma Hayes.
Berhalter’s tenure included notable successes such as winning the CONCACAF Nations League in 2021 and 2024 and the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a B team. However, his time was also marked by controversies, including an investigation into a decades-old domestic violence allegation brought to the USSF’s attention by the Reyna family, upset over Berhalter’s limited use of Gio Reyna at the World Cup.
The U.S. team faces significant challenges ahead, with only 23 months remaining before they host the World Cup, and the next competitive matches with the full player pool likely being in the CONCACAF Nations League. The new coach will inherit a team with standout players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams but also faces issues with key players not gaining sufficient playing time with top-tier European clubs.
Berhalter’s firing follows a pattern of U.S. coaches struggling in their second cycles. Previous coaches such as Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, and Jurgen Klinsmann faced similar challenges, often leading to disappointing outcomes in subsequent World Cup campaigns.
The search for a new coach aims to find someone who can maximize the team’s potential and build on the foundation laid during Berhalter’s tenure, focusing on achieving success in the 2026 World Cup and beyond.
