The US Men’s National Team bowed out of the 2024 Copa América earlier than expected this year.
A 1-0 loss to Uruguay sealed their fate in the tournament. They finished 3rd with 3 points in a group with Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia. And they failed to get to the knockout stage of a tournament that took place on US soil for the first time ever.
There was plenty of blame to go around for the USMNT performance. Failure to capitalize on attacking play and poor officiating led to the USA’s loss against Uruguay. It’s worth mentioning that an abysmal loss to Panama put them in a dire situation in the first place.
However, no one has received more blame than head coach Gregg Berhalter. Under Berhalter’s leadership, the USMNT has been up and down since he was first hired in 2018.
Berhalter has had a relatively successful track record as USMNT boss (44 wins, 13 draws, 15 losses). Having said that, his time at head coach has had its share of negatives. Underwhelming performances, drama between Berhalter and the family of star Giovanni Reyna, and a lack of progression from his squad have all overshadowed his accomplishments.
“Fire Gregg (Berhalter)” chants rained down from fans who attended the Uruguay match in Kansas City.
At the same time, #FireBerhalter and #FireGregg were trending on X soon after the result.
US Soccer Technical Director Matt Crocker and the United States Soccer Federation put out a statement the day after the Uruguay loss that puts USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter in the line of fire:
“Our tournament performance fell short of our expectations. We must do better. We will be conducting a comprehensive review of our performance in Copa América and how best to improve the team and results as we look towards the 2026 World Cup.”
But the 2026 World Cup is only 2 years away. As a result, US Soccer is facing some pressure to make changes after their early exit from Copa América, the last major international tournament before 2026.
Now, Crocker and the USSF must come to a quick conclusion about Gregg Berhalter’s future to avoid disaster in 2026. A good showing is pivotal to ensuring the continued growth of soccer in the United States.
USMNT Copa América Round-up
“Disappointing” would be the best way to describe the USMNT’s performance in the 2024 Copa América.
Against an easier opponent in Bolivia, they dominated the game but left a lot on the table when attacking in a 2-0 victory.
Then, the failure to salvage a point after an inexcusable red card from winger Timothy Weah had alarm bells going off in a 2-1 loss to Panama.
The same struggles from the 1st two matches, combined with poor officiating, sealed the USMNT’s fate in a 1-0 defeat against Uruguay.
The team put forth valiant efforts in each game, but it just was not enough to advance.
Captain Christian Pulisic continues to be the lone, consistent bright spot on this roster. He continued his brilliant run of form that he’s exhibited now for his country and his club, AC Milan.
Gregg Berhalter’s Hiring and Resume
Berhalter’s candidacy in 2018 was head-scratching compared to others that were considered. He had an unexceptional coaching record at Hammarby in Sweden and with the Columbus Crew of the MLS. And several questions have been raised regarding his family’s involvement in the hiring process. Jay Berhalter, Gregg’s brother, was the CCO for US Soccer at the time.
But on paper, Berhalter boasts an impressive resume compared to other USMNT coaches. He has the 3rd most wins, 2nd most trophies, best winning percentage, and best average goals for and against totals. He helped right the ship after the USMNT’s 2018 World Cup qualifying disaster. Perhaps his biggest accomplishment, he led the 2nd youngest team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup to the knockout stage.
The Case Against Gregg Berhalter
Context is important when judging Gregg Berhalter’s tenure.
Berhalter was dealt a better hand than all his predecessors. Interest in the game in the US is at an all-time high and continuing to grow. The player pool mostly consists of talent playing in the best leagues and clubs in the world. Fifteen players from the Copa América roster play in the Top-5 leagues of Europe (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France).
Mexico’s struggles have also benefitted Berhalter’s USMNT. In recent years, they haven’t been the dominant force in CONCACAF (the USA’s World Cup qualifying region) they once were. They’ve left the USMNT without a true rival in the region, shoes that the likes of Jamaica, Canada, and Panama have not been ready to fill.
But with US Soccer’s most talented player pool ever and a weaker CONCACAF, Berhalter has not been the man to maximize those advantages with a sound identity. The USMNT has struggled to build on performances and grow. This is especially concerning as we are well into Berhalter’s 5th year at the helm.
The best results Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT have been able to achieve have come against opponents that we should expect to beat soundly. There have been no wins against top tier programs.
In fact, when facing top-30 ranked opponents according to FIFA, Berhalter’s USMNT has just 6 wins in 24 games. Mexico makes up 4 of those wins; the other two were against Ecuador and Iran.
There needs to be grit, cohesiveness, and fearlessness to get results versus those types of teams. And that has been particularly where Berhalter’s USMNT has lacked. Gone are the days of the F-U energy displayed by players like Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan.
Assessing the USMNT in 2024
The USMNT has a solid 14-4-8 record since the 2022 World Cup in all competitions. However, against non-CONCACAF opponents they are 4-2-5. Of those 4 wins, the average FIFA ranking of each team is 71.5 (Oman, Uzbekistan, Ghana, and Bolivia). US Soccer needs to strive for better.
The fact of the matter is that this USMNT team is not going in the right direction if the intention is to compete with the best teams in the world. Berhalter may have been the man to rebuild the USMNT, but he is not the man to take the program to new heights. It is apparent that the message Berhalter has been preaching and promoting has gone stale with the current players.
The players certainly do not escape blame for their failures culminating with the 2024 Copa América. Backbreaking mistakes, a lacking sense of urgency, and missing composure plague this team when it matters most. However, appropriate direction and confidence instilled in a team by their coach could mitigate those types of lapses in focus.
Combine the players’ complacency and comfortability with Berhalter with the lack of discernable progress since the 2022 World Cup, and it becomes very clear that Berhalter’s USMNT may have already hit its ceiling.
A coach to hold every individual accountable, stress cohesion, and emphasize willingness to take risks should take this USMNT “golden generation” to the heights they are capable of.
Looking Ahead
The Gregg Berhalter experience is best characterized as a roller-coaster. There is an unseen descent for every thrilling climb and meaningful result. Each descent leaves you wondering if the ride is over, if it will climb again, or if it will leave you sick to your stomach. Whichever way it goes, it is definitely time for a breath of fresh air.
Matt Crocker and the USSF will need to own their mistake to re-hire Gregg Berhalter. Additionally, they need to have answers before the next pair of friendlies in September. Finding a new coach and forming some sort of identity must be the priority of every USMNT camp between now and the 2026 World Cup to avoid disaster as the host nation.
The successor to Gregg Berhalter cannot be faint of heart. A tall task will be asked of them. Going into 2026, that person will need to give every USMNT fan and World Cup fair-weather fan the one thing our fledgling program has thrived on: HOPE.
