NEW YORK — Ten months into his second stint as coach of the U.S. men's soccer team, Gregg Berhalter has been fired, leaving the Americans trying to find a brand new leader lower than two years before hosting the World Cup.
Berhalter was sacked on Wednesday, nine days after his team's first-round exit from the Copa America raised doubts about whether he was the appropriate person to proceed as coach.
“The result of the Copa America is extremely disappointing and I take full responsibility for our performance,” Berhalter said in an announcement. “Our approach and process have always been focused on the 2026 World Cup and I remain confident that this group will be one of the big stories in 2026.”
After a 2-0 win over Bolivia of their opening Copa America campaign, the USA lost 2-1 to Panama, twiddling with a person down for a lot of the match as a result of Tim Weah's sending off, after which lost 2-1 to Uruguay. During his second term, the USA recorded seven wins, six losses and one draw, taking their overall record to 44 wins, 17 losses and 13 draws.
When Berhalter returned to the bench last September, he announced that the team's goal was to “change American soccer forever.” And if that’s to occur, it’ll occur without him.
Sporting director Matt Crocker has rehired Berhalter and may even make recommendations for his successor. The team will play friendlies against Canada and New Zealand in September.
USSF spokesman Neil Buethe declined to make Crocker available for 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 the search,” Crocker said in an announcement.
USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone also issued an announcement. She didn’t immediately reply to a text message in search of further comment.
Possible successors to Berhalter include Jürgen Klopp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Marcelo Bielsa, in addition to Jesse Marsch, Hugo Pérez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino.
The salary could possibly be an issue.
Berhalter earned $2,291,136 in 2022, including a $900,000 bonus for helping the Americans qualify for the World Championship and reach the second round. A top men's coach could put pressure on the us to extend the salary of newly hired women's coach Emma Hayes.
Only 23 months to go until the World Cup involves the USA for the second time and the Americans will play their opening game on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. The only competitive games with a full player pool until then will likely be within the CONCACAF Nations League.
Berhalter, who turns 51 on Aug. 1, was the primary American to teach the national team after playing for the team at a World Cup. He was hired because the U.S. coach in December 2018 after playing for Hammarby (Sweden) (2011-13) and Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer) (2013-18).
“I want to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for entrusting me with the leadership of this team for the past five years,” Berhalter said. “Representing our country is a tremendous honor and I am proud of the identity we have built on and off the field. It has been very gratifying to watch this team improve over the years and I continue to be grateful for the lifelong bonds we have built with our players, coaches and staff.”
He led the U.S. to CONCACAF Nations League titles in 2021 and 2024 and one other B-team title within the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His players strongly supported Berhalter, saying he fostered a culture that kept the group together.
That support led Crocker to rehire Berhalter 5 1/2 months after his original contract expired while an investigation was conducted right into a decades-old domestic violence allegation dropped at the eye of the us by the Reyna family, who were upset that Berhalter limited Gio Reyna's playing time on the World Championship. A law firm hired by the us said there have been no legal impediments to reinstating Berhalter.
Berhalter's critics cited a scarcity of success against teams outside the region and difficulties traveling against Central American rivals. The U.S. secured the region's final automatic World Cup spot on goal difference and had the second-youngest team on the 2022 finals in Qatar. The U.S. squandered a second-half lead in a 1-1 draw with Wales, drew 0-0 with England and beat Iran 1-0 to succeed in the knockout rounds, where the Americans played poorly and lost 3-1 to the Netherlands.
Players showed a scarcity of discipline: defender Sergiño Dest received a red card for arguing with a referee in Trinidad and Tobago last November, and Weah was sent off within the match against Panama for hitting an opponent on the pinnacle.
“Gregg has earned the respect of everyone in our organization and has played a critical role in assembling a young team and moving the program forward,” Crocker said in his statement.
Bruce Arena led the team to a quarter-final appearance in 2002, their best since 1930, but then failed within the group stage in 2006.
Bob Bradley's team reached the second round in 2010 and earned him a four-year contract extension, but he was fired by the us eleven months later after the Americans blew a two-goal lead and lost to Mexico in the ultimate of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Jürgen Klinsmann replaced him and led the team to the second round of the 2014 World Cup, but was fired after the ultimate round of 2018 qualifying opened with a 2-1 home loss to Mexico and a 4-0 defeat in Costa Rica. Arena returned and the U.S. lost on the ultimate day of qualifying in Trinidad and Tobago, ending a streak of seven consecutive World Cup appearances.
While the brand new coach takes over players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, who’ve had success at European clubs, goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath in addition to Reyna haven’t been in a position to gain any playing time at first division clubs.
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