Gregg Berhalter fired as U.S. men's soccer coach after Copa America first-round exit
NEW YORK — Gregg Berhalter was fired as U.S. men's soccer coach Wednesday, nine days after his team's first-round exit from the Copa America 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 proclaimed the team's goal 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.
“The Copa America result is extremely disappointing and I take full responsibility for our performance," Berhalter said in a statement. "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.”
The U.S. opened with a 2-0 win to Bolivia, then lost 2-1 to Panama and 1-0 to Uruguay.
Sporting director Matt Crocker rehired Berhalter and also will make the recommendation on his replacement. The team next plays in September friendlies against Canada and New Zealand .
USSF spokesman Neil Buethe would not make Crocker available to answer questions from The Associated Press.
“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.
USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone also issued a statement. She did not immediately respond to a text message seeking additional comment.
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.
Berhalter earned $2,291,136 in 2022, 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 newly hired women’s coach Emma Hayes.
Just 23 months remain before the World Cup comes to the United States for the second time; 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.
Berhalter, who turns 51 on Aug. 1, was the first American 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.
His detractors cited lack of success against teams outside the region and struggles on the road against Central American 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. reached the knockout stage, where it played poorly in a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands.
While the new coach inherits players such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams who have thrived with European clubs, goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath and Reyna have failed to gain playing time with first-tier teams.
