In a surprising turn of events, Gregg Berhalter has been dismissed from his role as head coach of the USA Men’s National Team, the U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed on Wednesday.
As hosts of the ongoing Copa America, the USA faced a disappointing early exit after losing two of their three Group C matches against Panama and Uruguay. This marks the first time the team has failed to advance to the knockout stage in their five appearances at the tournament.
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker made the decision to relieve Berhalter of his duties following a comprehensive 10-day review. The decision was made in consultation with president Cindy Parlow Cone, CEO J.T. Batson, vice president of sporting Oguchi Onyewu, and members of the board of directors.
“I want to thank Gregg for his hard work and dedication to U.S. Soccer and our Men’s National Team,” Cone stated. “We are now focused on working with our sporting director Matt Crocker to find the right person to lead the USMNT into a new era of success.”
Berhalter acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in a personal statement: “The Copa America result is extremely disappointing, and I take full responsibility for our performance. Our approach was always focused on the 2026 World Cup, and I remain confident that this group will be one of the great stories in 2026.”
Berhalter’s tenure with the national team spanned two periods between December 2018 and July 2024, with a brief hiatus from December 2022 to August 2023. Under his leadership, the team secured 44 wins out of 74 games, along with 13 draws and 17 losses. Notably, the USA reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 but were eliminated by the Netherlands.
As the USA prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, the search for a new head coach begins. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see who will take the helm and guide the team on home soil.
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USA coach Gregg Berhalter fired after early Copa America exit
cgtn.com
