On Wednesday, Gregg Berhalter was fired as manager of the US men’s national team after crashing out of the Copa America during the group stages and taking full responsibility for the dismal performance. The USMNT became the first ever Copa America hosts to fail to reach the group stage, raising concerns over whether Berhater was the right man to lead the USMNT to the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Berhalter thanked the federation and said he believes big things lie ahead for the team, even without him.
“I would like to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for entrusting me to lead this team over the past five years. Representing our country is a tremendous honor and I am proud of the identity we have built both on and off the field. was very satisfying to watch. This team has gone from strength to strength over the years and I remain grateful for the lifelong bonds we have built with our players, coaches and staff.” Berhalter said in a statement to Fox . “The Copa America result is extremely disappointing and I take full responsibility for our performance. Our approach and process has always been focused on the 2026 World Cup and I remain convinced that this group will be one of the big stories in 2026. “
Despite winning a Gold Cup and two Concacaf Nations League titles, sporting director Matt Crocker decided it was time to move in a different direction. Berhalter had a 44-13-17 record as head coach of the USMNT, but his only wins against teams in FIFA’s top 20 came against Mexico and Iran.
Crocker has stated that the search for a new head coach has already begun and it is important that it is a search that moves quickly. The USMNT is back in action against Canada in a friendly on September 7 and the more time a new coach has to get to know the players the better.
