When Gregg Berhalter assumed the role of U.S. men’s national team head coach five and a half years ago, the program was still recovering from a dark period in its history.
The failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia following a defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in 2017 was a stark wake-up call. It prompted U.S. Soccer leadership to reflect on every shortcoming and recognize the lack of development in young talent in previous cycles. Berhalter was appointed a year later to propel the national team forward.
Now, following an underwhelming performance in the group stage of Copa America on home turf, the U.S. program must confront its setbacks once again.
As part of this assessment, the suitability of Berhalter to lead the team into the 2026 World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, is under scrutiny.
When asked if he believed he was still the right person for the job after the loss to Uruguay on Monday, which eliminated his team from Copa America, Berhalter simply responded with “Yes.” He acknowledged that the final decision would not be his to make, as U.S. Soccer leadership will evaluate his performance in the upcoming days.
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“Our tournament performance fell short of our expectations. We must do better,” stated U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker in a statement following the Uruguay game. “We will be conducting a comprehensive review of our performance in Copa America and how best to improve the team and results as we look towards the 2026 World Cup.”
The U.S. lost to Panama and Uruguay during the Copa America group stage. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Berhalter faced a challenging task when he took on the role, which involved integrating both experienced players and fresh, young talent into the team. His initial U.S. squad selections in the summer of 2019 included players like Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Christian Pulisic, along with seasoned players like Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley. Berhalter’s subsequent rosters for the 2021 Nations League showcased progress under his guidance.
The team consisted primarily of young players, including Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Adams, McKennie, Yunus Musah, Brenden Aaronson, Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, and Tim Weah.
Under Berhalter, the U.S. won the Nations League and achieved notable results. Despite finishing third in CONCACAF qualifying, they qualified for the World Cup in Qatar and delivered a commendable performance in the tournament.
Berhalter helped the U.S. return to the World Cup in 2022 after the team failed to qualify in 2018 (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The ultimate goal of this process was to prepare for the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Berhalter’s initial efforts with the team were commendable, but over the past year, progress has been less evident. U.S. Soccer leaders must now determine if the coach who guided the transition from 2018 to 2022 is the right person to lead the team towards the 2026 tournament.
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Crocker and U.S. Soccer’s leadership team, including president Cindy Parlow Cone and CEO JT Batson, expressed confidence in Berhalter’s abilities by retaining him last summer. However, the USMNT’s Copa America exit has sparked further debate on the team’s direction.
While it would be unfair to attribute all blame for the failure to Berhalter and his coaching staff, there are signs of stagnation in results over the past year. A lack of prominent victories against top opponents and disappointing performances raise questions about the team’s progress.
The inability to advance from the group stage in the Copa America was a missed opportunity with widespread ramifications, from team development to the growth of soccer in the U.S. ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Berhalter is known for his attention to detail and strong work ethic, traits that contributed to the team’s setbacks in Copa America.
“We know we’re capable of more, and in this tournament, we didn’t show it,” Berhalter acknowledged. “It’s really as simple as that.” He emphasized the need to learn from these setbacks and improve moving forward.
Players in the mixed zone affirmed their support for Berhalter’s leadership and highlighted the team’s unity and trust in the coach.
“I believe we all have a comfort with Gregg, and we all understand him and we’ve had him for a long time,” McKennie said. “He’s progressed the team very far from where we started. I think the connection that we have with him is what’s important, in having a coach players would run through a brick wall for, players that listen to him. And so I think whatever happens, happens, but I think if he’s the coach, we’re all happy.”
However, U.S. Soccer faces the challenge of evaluating whether this comfort level represents a strength or a potential weakness for the team’s future.
The recent red cards and individual errors raise concerns about the team’s discipline and readiness for higher levels of competition.
If U.S. Soccer determines a need for significant changes to elevate the team’s performance, assessing the culture within the program and Berhalter’s ability to drive progress are crucial considerations.
“I don’t think so. I don’t think we’ve progressed enough since the World Cup,” remarked USMNT legend Clint Dempsey on the topic of Berhalter’s leadership. “We’re not on the right track. … For me, it hasn’t been good enough.”
As U.S. Soccer weighs its decision in the coming days, the impact of potential changes will be significant as the team prepares for the 2026 World Cup. The stakes are high, and the expectations demand a strategic approach to ensure success on the international stage.
Given the magnitude of the situation, the USMNT position carries greater significance than ever before, surpassing the challenge of overcoming past failures and striving for excellence.
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(Top photo: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)