da brwin： Two years ahead of the World Cup, and in the wake of a failed Copa America, Gregg Berhalter was fired as USMNT coach

da jogodeouro： Article continues below

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Berhalter coaching tenure officially comes to endUSMNT eliminated in Copa America group stageMove comes 2 years before World CupGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Gregg Berhalter was fired as U.S. men’s soccer coach on Wednesday, less than two weeks after the USMNT was eliminated in the Copa America group stage on home soil. After a tournament-opening win over Bolivia, the U.S. fell to Panama in their second match before losing to Uruguay in a do-or-die group stage finale.

That unexpected Copa America failure ultimately cost Berhalter his job, as the USMNT will move in a new direction just two years before the 2026 World Cup arrives stateside.

U.S. Soccer announced that it has launched a search for Berhalter’s replacement, led by Sporting Director Matt Crocker, who said in a statement, “Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process."

“We are deeply grateful to Gregg for his commitment the past five years to the Men’s National Team and to U.S. Soccer,” said Crocker. “Gregg has earned the respect of everyone within our organization and has played a pivotal role in bringing together a young team and moving the program forward. We wish Gregg all the best in his future endeavors, and we know he will find success in his next coaching position.”

U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone also thanked Berhalter, and said in a statement that the federation would leverage Crocker's "experience at the highest levels of the sport to ensure we find the right person to lead the USMNT into a new era of on-field success."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Berhalter initially took charge of the USMNT in 2019, helping lead the team back to the 2022 World Cup. He was then rehired in the summer of 2023 as U.S. Soccer handed him the reins for a second World Cup cycle.

He departs the job with a total of 44 wins, 13 draws and 17 losses across his 74 USMNT matches. His 44 wins are the third-most by a USMNT manager of all time, trailing only Bruce Arena (81) and Jurgen Klinsmann (55). Notable victories during his tenure came in the CONCACAF Nations League, where he was in charge for two trophies, as well as the 2021 Gold Cup.

Under Berhalter, though, the U.S. struggled to defeat non-CONCACAF foes, and the team's failures at the Copa America – especially in the wake of heightened expectations, with the matches played in the U.S. – robbed them of a chance to face some of South America's heavy-hitters in the knockouts.

Berhalter had eight years of managerial experience before joining the USMNT. He got his start at Hammarby in the Swedish League in 2011 but was fired in 2013. He led the Columbus Crew in MLS from 2013 to 2018.

GettyWHAT BERHALTER SAID

“I want to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for entrusting me to lead this team for the past five years — representing our country is a tremendous honor and I am proud of the identity we have built on and off the field," Berhalter said in a statement. "It was very gratifying watching this team improve over the years and I remain grateful for the lifetime bonds created with our players, coaches, and staff members. The Copa America result is extremely disappointing and I take full responsibility for our performance. Our approach and process was always focused on the 2026 World Cup and I remain confident that this group will be one of the great stories in 2026.”

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR USMNT

As U.S. Soccer embarks on another coaching search, the USMNT will be back in action in September, with two friendlies already on the schedule. The U.S. will face Canada, led by one-time USMNT coaching candidate Jesse Marsch, on Sept. 7 in Kansas City before taking on New Zealand three days later in Cincinnati.