Gregg Berhalter fired as U.S. men's national team coach

Gregg Berhalter was fired after seven years as head coach of the U.S. men's national team following a disastrous defeat in the group stage of the Copa America.

Berhalter led the U.S. to two Gold Cup titles and a Nations League title but failed to beat a team ranked in the top 25 outside CONCACAF. The U.S. Soccer Federation is expected to announce his replacement ahead of a friendly against Canada in September.

Berhalter took over as head coach of the United States Men's National Team after Bruce Arena resigned in December 2018. He led the United States Men's National Team to their first World Cup since 2014, reaching the Round of 16. Berhalter finished his tenure in Chicago with 44 wins, 15 losses and 13 ties. His biggest accomplishment with the United States Men's National Team was winning back-to-back Nations League championships by defeating Canada and Mexico. They also won one Gold Cup in 2021.

Berhalter led the U.S. national team to a elimination in the group stage.

Berhalter began to face criticism after the 2022 World Cup. The U.S. Soccer Association terminated his contract following a scandal involving him and the family of star player Gio Reyna. After an investigation into Gio Reyna's lack of playing time, Berhalter was rehired to lead the team to success in the 2024 Copa America.

Berhalter was under immense pressure to keep his job after a poor performance in the Copa America, where the U.S. beat Bolivia in their opening match on home soil but lost consecutive matches to Panama and eventual semifinalists Uruguay.

The Copa America 2024 was a great opportunity for the United States to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which it will host alongside Canada and Mexico. However, Berhalter's team was timid offensively and overly relied on the individual efforts of its star attacking players. The team was undisciplined throughout the tournament and had some sloppy defensive performances. Berhalter has been accused of being coddling his players, and this was on full display throughout the game. The U.S. team seemed unmotivated and at times content with defeat.

Coming off a loss to Panama, the U.S. needed to beat Uruguay to advance to the knockout stages, but despite the urgency of the game and obvious attacking prowess, the U.S. offered little offensively, and although a controversial Matias Olivera shot proved the deciding factor, the USMNT failed to create enough chances to score.

Berhalter faced criticism after leaving the company

Berhalter faced public criticism after the U.S. men's national team was eliminated from the Copa America. The team's largest supporter group took to social media to demand his dismissal. Fans chanted “Fire Greg” during the loss at Arrowhead Stadium.

Days after the loss, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced that Berhalter would remain with the U.S. men's national team through the 2026 World Cup.

“When I began this search, I was focused on finding someone with the right vision to lead this program to new heights in 2026,” Crocker said. “Greg has that vision. He has the experience and growth mindset to move our team forward both on and off the field.”

Statement from U.S. Soccer officials

But Berhalter is no longer the team's coach — Crocker relieved him of his duties after a “comprehensive” review of Berhalter's tactics following the Copa America — and the U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed it has already begun the search for a new coach.

“We are extremely grateful to Greg for his commitment to the men's national team and U.S. Soccer over the past five years,” Crocker said. “Greg has earned the respect of everyone in our organization and has played a pivotal role in unifying our young team and moving our program forward.”

Thierry Henry, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino are big-name candidates to replace Berhalter, but it's unclear when Crocker and the U.S. Soccer Association will announce a new coach. LAFC's Steve Cherundolo and Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy are the front-runners.

The U.S. is scheduled to play again, presumably with a new coach, on Sept. 7 in a friendly against Canada.

Photo: Imago