NEW YORK (AP) — Gregg Berhalter was fired as coach of the U.S. men's soccer team on Wednesday, nine days after his team lost in the first round of the Copa America, raising questions about whether he would be fit to continue as coach at the 2026 World Cup.
Berhalter's second stint as head coach ended 10 months after he returned with high expectations and declared his goal for the team to “change soccer in the United States forever.” During Berhalter's second stint, the USA had 7 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw for a total record of 44 wins, 17 losses and 13 draws.
“We are extremely disappointed with our Copa America result and take full responsibility for our performance,” Berhalter said in a statement. “Our approach and process remains focused on the 2026 World Cup and I am confident this team will be one of the great stories in 2026.”
The U.S. opened the season with a 2-0 win over Bolivia, but then lost 2-1 to Panama and 1-0 to Uruguay.
Sporting director Matt Crocker will rehire Berhalter and will also recommend a replacement. The team next plays friendlies against Canada and New Zealand in September.
USSF spokesman Neil Butte did not make Crocker available to answer questions from The Associated Press.
“Our immediate focus is to find a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup and we have already begun that search,” Crocker said in a statement.
USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone also released a statement. She did not immediately respond to a text message seeking additional comment.
Jurgen Klopp, Thierry Henry and Marcelo Bielsa have all been rumoured to be potential successors to Berhalter, with other names also including Jesse Marsch, Hugo Perez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino.
Salary may be an issue.
Berhalter made $2,291,136 in 2022, including a $900,000 bonus for the U.S. competing in the World Cup and reaching the second round. It's also possible that top-level men's coaches will pressure the USSF to raise the salary of newly hired women's coach Emma Hayes.
There are just 23 months until the World Cup returns to the United States for the second time, with the U.S. opening match on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. The CONCACAF Nations League will likely be the only official tournament with all players in it until then.
Berhalter, who turns 51 on Aug. 1, is the first American to coach the U.S. national team after playing for the national team in a World Cup. He took over as U.S. national team coach in December 2018 after stints with Sweden's Hammarby (2011-13) and Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew (2013-18).
“I want to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for entrusting me with leading this team these past five years,” said Berhalter. “It has been a great honor to represent our country and I am proud of the identity we have built on and off the field. It has been extremely satisfying to watch this team grow over the years and I am grateful for the lifelong bonds I have made with the players, coaches and staff.”
Berhalter led the U.S. to CONCACAF Nations League titles in 2020, 2023 and 2024 and helped the B team win the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2021. Players have been strong supporters of Berhalter, saying he has fostered a culture of unity for the team.
That support led Crocker to rehire Berhalter five months after his original contract expired amid an investigation into decades-old allegations of domestic violence reported to the USSF by the Reyna family, who were upset that Berhalter had limited player Gio Reyna's playing time at the World Cup. A law firm hired by the USSF said there were no legal obstacles to bringing Berhalter back.
His critics cited a lack of success against teams from outside the region and struggles away from home to Central American rivals. The U.S. was the last automatic qualifier for the World Cup from the region on goal differential and fielded the second-youngest team for Qatar 2022. The U.S. squandered a late lead to draw 1-1 with Wales and 0-0 with England and beat Iran 1-0 to reach the knockout stages, where the team struggled in a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands.
Players have shown a lack of discipline: defender Sergiño Dest received a red card for arguing with the referee in a game against Trinidad and Tobago last November, and winger Tim Weah was sent off against Panama for hitting an opponent in the head.
“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,” Crocker said in a statement.
The U.S. coaching staff hasn't had a good run in the second cycle.
Coach Bruce Arena led the team to their best quarter-final appearance since 1930 in 2002, but failed to get out of the group stage in 2006.
Bob Bradley's team reached the second round in 2010 and earned him a four-year contract extension, but the USSF fired him 11 months later after the U.S. squandered a two-goal lead in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final to lose to Mexico.
Jurgen Klinsmann replaced him and led the team to the second round at the 2014 World Cup, but was fired after a 2-1 home loss to Mexico and a 4-0 defeat to Costa Rica in the final round of qualifying in 2018. Arenas returned and the U.S. lost to Trinidad and Tobago on the final day of qualifying, ending the team's streak of seven consecutive World Cup appearances.
The new manager inherits players who have excelled at European clubs, such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, but goalkeepers Matt Turner, Ethan Horvat and Reyna have failed to get playing time with the first team.
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