Janice R. Andrews
Missouri’s Kansas City A shake of Gregg Berhalter’s head, thousands of jeers, and dozens of lost looks signaled the start of the consequences. American football supporters yelled, “Fire Gregg! Fire Gregg!” as they descended the Arrowhead Stadium ramps in protest of the unexpected early exit of the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) from the 2024 Copa America. Once a ray of hope, this tournament now casts a lengthy shadow over Berhalter’s future.
A Letdown in Farewell
The players, dejected and gloomy, lumbered through the post-match interview area as reporters pelted them with questions. Do people think highly of Berhalter still? “Should he stay on as their head coach?” was one of the most important queries.
“Well, that’s a pretty direct question,” defender Antonee Robinson answered. “Obviously, the boys and I are not the ones making that decision.” Nevertheless, he recognized the passion behind it, considering the squad didn’t even reach the minimal need to move past the group stage.
Rather, the USMNT collapsed, which stands in sharp contrast to the optimism expressed at the tournament’s initial announcement in January 2023. The Americans were viewed as possible third favorites at the time, behind only Brazil and Argentina. They had overcome a terrible moment in their history, brought in an extraordinary talent pool, and advanced to the Round of 16 in Qatar, all the while harboring the hope that they would “be giants eventually.”
Stuckness and Growing Expectations
A portion of this growth was credited to Berhalter by U.S. Soccer executives, such as CEO JT Batson, president Cindy Parlow Cone, and sporting director Matt Crocker. They now have to hold him responsible for the program’s inaction, though. They saw the USMNT fall to Uruguay 1-0 at Arrowhead, a game that summed up a run of unsatisfactory outings that led many observers and supporters to declare that Berhalter’s time was up.
Rehired in June of last year to steer the program toward the 2026 World Cup and continue its upward trajectory, Berhalter’s second stint has seen the team stagnate. Although the players appear to be at their peak physically, the team’s output has not improved at all.
Since his return, the team has been humiliated by Colombia, outplayed by Panama, and lost to Germany and almost to Jamaica. They defied Brazil and triumphed over a poor Mexico team, but their entire Copa América campaign was a huge letdown.
Reflections and Accountability Following the Match
Following the game, Berhalter voiced his dissatisfaction. He expressed his “bitter disappointment” with the outcomes and emphasized the necessity for an investigation to determine what went wrong. But will he participate in that evaluation procedure?
“It’s not my decision,” Berhalter said. The choice rests with Crocker, who now has to acknowledge that rehiring Berhalter, his first significant action at U.S. Soccer, might have been a mistake.
The Choice That Remains
At the time, Crocker’s judgment was not ill-founded. Berhalter was a prudent, safe pick who had realistic expectations about his capacity to advance the team’s progress. But given the current standstill, it appears that his replacement might push up the USMNT’s 2026 ceiling. It appears that there is a bigger risk of staying on the current course than of changing.
Crocker’s position is still unknown. A significant portion of his work has been done in private, and he was not available for interviews leading up to or during the Copa América. Following the defeat, Crocker vowed a thorough investigation and admitted the team’s failures in a statement.
This review will go deeper than any outside analysis and might present a more positive picture of Berhalter. Things like Tim Weah’s red card, bad luck, and underperforming players might be taken into account. Gio Reyna and other players believe that individual errors rather than poor coaching are to blame for the loss.
The Future of Berhalter
In response to the question of whether he still thought he was the best voice for the team, Berhalter said with assurance, “Yes.” Crocker might, however, come to a different judgement. He may still respect and enjoy Berhalter’s leadership qualities because of this. Players would “run through a brick wall” for Berhalter, according to Weston McKennie.
Financial factors are also important. Both firing Berhalter and appointing a replacement—especially a well-known foreign coach—would come at a cost to the federation. The pool of possible successors is further uncertain because Jesse Marsch, a well-known possibility, is currently coaching Canada.
The Issue with Performance
The team’s performance is the main concern in spite of these elements. There haven’t been any wins under Berhalter against teams ranked in the top 20 Elo. Expectations are rarely exceeded by the USMNT, and their assault in particular has become stale.
When asked about the team’s difficulties, Reyna was limited to responding, “I don’t really know at this point.” The group’s advancement has not kept pace with the players’ respective club advancements. While others like Chris Richards, McKennie, Pulisic, and others have improved significantly, the USMNT has not.
The Inability of the Golden Generation to Unite
Some contend that since many athletes have already reached their prime, it is unfair to expect them to keep getting better. The trend line ought to remain favorable, though. Despite having the most skilled roster in history, the USMNT’s overall performance hasn’t increased since Qatar.
It has been difficult for Berhalter to bring out the best in his players. His Expected Goal margins and strong defence are meagre consolation when the attack is still drab. Berhalter must bear the final blame for this deficiency.
Final Thoughts
The USMNT’s defeat at Copa América has cast questions on Berhalter’s future. Even while a lot of people still support him, their opinions are becoming less clear. “It’s a little bit easier to evaluate how we’ve done as a team under him, and the last couple of years since the World Cup,” Robinson said, analyzing the team’s performance.
The most significant backer of Berhalter, Pulisic, likewise held back from endorsing him strongly, stating, “We have a good relationship with him.” It’s also not my responsibility to determine what the next course of action should be.
The question of whether Gregg Berhalter will continue in his role or whether a change is necessary to realize the full potential of the USMNT looms as U.S. Soccer performs its study. The choice will have an impact on the team’s future as they prepare for the domestic 2026 World Cup.
