Gregg Berhalter Sacked By USA Following Copa America Group-Stage Exit.
The United States Soccer Federation has announced the sacking of head coach Gregg Berhalter following the USA’s early exit from the Copa America group stage. The USA, as host nation, made history by becoming the first to be eliminated at this stage, after defeats by Panama and Uruguay.
“We are deeply grateful to Gregg for his commitment over the past five years to the men’s national team and to US soccer,” said United States Soccer Federation sporting director Matt Crocker. “Gregg has earned the respect of everyone within our organisation and has played a pivotal role in bringing together a young team and moving the programme forward.”
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been linked with the position, and Crocker confirmed that the “search process” for a new manager has begun. The USA will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, making the selection of a new head coach a crucial decision for the federation.
Berhalter, 50, had two stints as head coach. His first tenure ended in 2022 amid an investigation into his past conduct, specifically an incident where he admitted to kicking his wife when they were teenagers. US Soccer investigated the matter and found “no legal impediment to employing him.”
During his first spell, Berhalter led the USA to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and secured the Concacaf Nations League Gold Cup in 2021. However, his second tenure lasted only 14 games. Despite the recent setback, Berhalter had expressed confidence in his ability to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup following the 1-0 defeat by Uruguay.