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Gregg Berhalter. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Gregg Berhalter out as USMNT coach after early Copa America exit

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated Jul 10, 2024 7:25 PM ET

Gregg Berhalter has been relieved of his post as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team, U.S. soccer confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

"I want to thank Gregg for his hard work and dedication to U.S. Soccer and our Men's National Team," USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement. "We are now focused on working with our Sporting Director Matt Crocker and leveraging his 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."

Berhalter's departure comes in the wake of the USMNT's group stage exit at the 2024 Copa America. The team had its sights set on the knockout rounds but was unable to beat both Panama and Uruguay in the opening matches of the tournament.

The Panama loss came after a moment of madness from U.S. forward Tim Weah that led to a red card; the Uruguay loss, however, was far more damning. In a do-or-die moment for the USMNT Berhalter was seen gesturing to his players that the Panama versus Bolivia game was tied — a gesture that meant the U. S. didn't have to win to advance.

Immediately after making the gesture, Uruguay scored, and the USMNT was eliminated from the tournament.

While defending a dangerous set piece, Gregg Berhalter made sure to tell his team Bolivia had tied Panama 1-1, which meant the USMNT would be advancing. Seconds later, Uruguay took the lead and the U.S. fell down to third in the group. pic.twitter.com/kB40V3SKGn
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 2, 2024

That moment embodied everything that USMNT fans disliked about Berhalter: his conservative approach, his unwillingness to push for bold results and his tactical fumbles.

But for all of Berhalter's faults in the eyes of USMNT fans, he was well liked by his players. Team Captain Tyler Adams and star Christian Pulisic both defended him in the press in the wake of the USMNT's exit, and midfielder Weston McKennie went as far as to say "as long as he's the coach, we're all happy."

The USSF will now begin an extensive process to find a new national team coach. The stakes are higher than they've ever been: the chosen figure will likely lead the USMNT in its home World Cup in 2026. Top candidates for the position include former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, French youth team coach Thierry Henry and LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo.

Klopp is beloved by soccer fans around the globe for his title-winning antics with Liverpool. Henry is a known face in the States thanks to his punditry job with CBS Sports and has a close relationship with USMNT forward Folarin Balogun.

Cherundolo, the least-known of the three, recently won an MLS Cup and has implemented some of the most recognizable and innovative tactics in league history during his tenure with LAFC.

If previous searches are anything to go by, the USSF won't announce Berhalter's successor for months. It has also failed to announce an interim coach in his absence; with the next USMNT fixtures not scheduled until early September, the hope is that the federation will find its full-time replacement without needing to default to an interim solution.

The USMNT will return to action on Sept. 7 in a friendly against high-flying Canada.

Alyssa Clang

Alyssa is a Boston-born Californian with a passion for global sport. She can yell about misplaced soccer passes in five languages and rattle off the turns of Silverstone in her sleep. You can find her dormant Twitter account at @alyssaclang, but honestly, you’re probably better off finding her here

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