(New York) Gregg Berhalter was fired as coach of the U.S. men’s soccer team on Wednesday following the team’s first-round elimination from the Copa America.
Berhalter’s second reign at the helm of the U.S. program lasted just 10 months after he proclaimed the team’s goal was to “change soccer forever in the United States.” Under his guidance, the U.S. team went 7-6-1.
“Our priority is to find a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue our preparation for the 2026 World Cup and we have already begun our search,” U.S. Soccer Federation sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement.
Jürgen Klopp, Thierry Henry and Marcelo Bielsa are among the candidates who could replace Berhalter, as are Jesse Marsch, Hugo Pérez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino.
There are just 23 months left until the United States hosts the World Cup for a second time. Its only competitive games on the schedule between now and then could be in the Concacaf Nations League.
Berhalter helped the United States win the Concacaf Nations League in 2020, 2023 and 2024 and the Gold Cup in 2021 with a B team. He had the support of his players who loved the culture he had developed.
That player confidence led the U.S. federation to rehire Berhalter five months after his contract expired and while he was the target of an investigation into allegations of domestic violence.
A law firm told the U.S. federation that there were no legal obstacles to its reinstating Berhalter.
Critics, however, have noted the U.S. team’s lack of success outside of Concacaf.