U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter was questioned about his suitability to lead the Americans into the World Cup on home soil two years from now after their first-ever group stage exit of a Copa América host. Berhalter responded affirmatively.
Berhalter’s future as head coach of the USMNT is uncertain, as he retook the national team’s reign less than a year after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and reaching the second round with the youngest starting lineup in Qatar.
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker stated that the team’s Copa América performance fell short of expectations, and they will conduct a comprehensive review to improve their performance and results before the 2026 World Cup. The statement was sent to FOX Sports and other outlets.
Crocker’s comments were similar to those made last summer after the U.S. women’s national team’s first-ever exit from the World Cup, and shortly after, the federation announced its mutual separation from USWNT boss Vlatko Andonovski.
Andonovski was fired, and Berhalter should face a similar fate in American soccer. Top-level soccer is a results-driven business, and when a team fails globally, the coach is usually the first to go. Players represent their country, while coaches can come from anywhere. Making a change at the top is often the easiest move when things go sideways.
Crocker’s decision to retain Berhalter, despite the controversy surrounding his rehiring following the Gio Reyna scandal, may seem inevitable, but his current situation seems untenable based on the public view of his family.
Berhalter, a soccer fanatic, acknowledges that most coaches struggle to survive failures like the U.S. men’s recent loss. He emphasized that success in tournament football is minimally different from failure. England, a favorite for Euro 2024, defeated Slovakia in the Round of 16.
The Americans struggled against a Celeste team, potentially winning the Copa in Miami, but had no late magic or good fortune in the Panama-Bolivia match. The Americans’ luck seemed to be against them all tournament, and they also didn’t help themselves.
Reyna stated that the tournament’s outcome was not due to staff or tactics but rather individual mistakes. She attributed the team’s struggles to their inability to perform at their best, stating that the players’ performance was insufficient to secure victory.
Berhalter’s team was deemed insufficient for advancement due to their poor performance, with only three goals in three games. The team’s poor scoring at the World Cup, where the U.S. scored three goals in four matches, further highlighted the issue of their inability to win many games.
Crocker faces the challenge of hiring a new manager if he decides to change direction. Berhalter, who replaced Jesse Marsch, is no longer available due to his recent acquisition by Canada. There are few clear candidates who would be better than Berhalter, and there is also risk associated with making a change.
U.S. captain Christian Pulisic expressed disappointment with the team’s results in the tournament, stating that it doesn’t mean they’re bad or haven’t improved. Pulisic, who lobbied for Berhalter’s return last summer, acknowledged the uncertain future and stated that he has a good relationship with Berhalter and that it’s not his job to decide the next steps.
