Gregg Berhalter fired as U.S. men’s soccer coach after Copa America first-round exit

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Gregg Berhalter fired as U.S. men’s soccer coach after Copa America first-round exit

Gregg Berhalter, Head Coach of ******* States reacts after the first half during the CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 Group C match between Panama and ******* States at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Hector Vivas | Getty Images

Gregg Berhalter was fired as U.S. men’s soccer coach on Wednesday, nine days after his team’s 

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 flamed doubts he was the right person to remain in charge for the 2026 World Cup.

Berhalter’s second term as coach was cut short 10 months after he returned to the bench with high hopes and 

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 was “to change soccer in America forever.” The U.S. had seven wins, six losses and one draw in his second stint, leaving his overall record at 44 wins, 17 losses and 13 draws.

Sporting director Matt Crocker 

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 and also will make the recommendation on his replacement. The team next plays in 

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.

“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,” Crocker said in a statement.

Crocker and USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone issued statements, but did not immediately make themselves available to media for questions.

Jürgen Klopp, Thierry Henry and Marcelo Bielsa are among those being speculated about as candidates to replace Berhalter, along with Jesse Marsch, Hugo Pérez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino.

Salary could be an issue.

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, including $900,000 in bonuses for the Americans qualifying for the World Cup and reaching the second round. A top-level men’s coach could put pressure on the USSF to increase the salary of 

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Just 23 months remain before the World Cup comes to the ******* States for the second time and the Americans play their opener at Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. The only competitive matches with the full player pool before then likely will be in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Gregg Berhalter, Head Coach of ******* States gestures during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group C match between ******* States and Bolivia at AT&T Stadium on June 23, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

Omar Vega | Getty Images

Berhalter, who turns 51 on Aug. 1, was the first ********* to coach the national team after playing for the team at a World Cup. He was hired to coach the U.S. in December 2018 after stints with Sweden’s Hammarby (2011-13) and Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew (2013-18).

He led the U.S. to titles in the CONCACAF Nations League in 2020, 2023 and 2024 and to another with a B team in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His players strongly supported Berhalter, saying he fostered a culture that bound the group.

That support led to Crocker rehiring Berhalter five months after his initial contract expired amid an investigation of a decades-old domestic ********* allegation that was 

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, which was upset that Berhalter limited Gio Reyna’s playing time at the World Cup. A 

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 to bringing Berhalter back.

His detractors cited lack of success against teams outside the region and struggles on the road against Central ********* rivals. The U.S. gained the region’s final automatic World Cup berth on goal difference, and it had the second-youngest team at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The U.S. wasted a second-half lead in a 1-1 draw with Wales, tied England 0-0 and defeated Iran 1-0 to reach the knockout stage, where the Americans played poorly in a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands.

Players exhibited a lack of discipline: Defender 

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 and 

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 for punching an opponent on the head.

“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,” Crocker said in his statement.

U.S. coaches have not fared well in a second cycle.

Bruce Arena led the team to a quarterfinal appearance in 2002, its best since 1930, then ******* to advance past the group stage in 2006.

Bob Bradley’s team reached the second round in 2010, earning him a four-year contract extension only for 

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 after the Americans wasted a two-goal lead and lost to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

Jurgen Klinsmann replaced him and led the team to the second round of the 2014 World Cup, 

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 after opening the final round of 2018 qualifying with a 2-1 home loss to Mexico and a 4-0 defeat at Costa Rica. Arena returned and the 

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 on the final day of qualifying, ending a run of seven straight World Cup appearances.

While the new coach inherits players such as ********** Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams who have thrived with ********* clubs, goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath and Reyna have ******* to gain playing time with first-tier teams.

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#Gregg #Berhalter #fired #U.S #mens #soccer #coach #Copa #America #firstround #exit

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