The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Wednesday that U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has officially been fired from his role.
Berhalter assumed the role of head coach in December 2018 after coaching for Sweden’s Hammarby and Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, becoming the first American ever to play for the team in a World Cup and later coach the team, according to NBC News.
During his five years coaching the U.S. Men’s National Team, Berhalter accumulated an overall record of 44-17-13 record across 74 total matches, while also finishing with a record of 29-9-7 in official competitions, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation.
This tenure also included the USMNT winning two Concacaf Nations League titles and the 2021 Gold Cup.
However, Berhalter’s departure comes on the heels of a disappointing performance in the Copa America, as the U.S. failed to advance past the first round after a 1-0 loss to Uruguay.
This loss marked the first instance since a new format was introduced in 1975 that the host nation failed to reach the knockout stage of the tournament, according to Time.
U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone thanked Berhalter for his contributions to the team over the last five years, saying that he always gave his best and worked hard to improve the team at every chance possible.
“I want to thank Gregg for his hard work and dedication to U.S. Soccer and our Men’s National Team,” she said.
“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.”
Crocker has reportedly already begun searching for the team’s next head coach, saying that the “immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.”
“Gregg has earned the respect of everyone within our organization and has played a pivotal role in bringing together a young team and moving the program forward. We wish Gregg all the best in his future endeavors, and we know he will find success in his next coaching position,” he added.
One name discussed as a potential replacement for Berhalter was Jurgen Klopp; however, the 57-year-old reportedly declined the opportunity to begin formal talks with U.S. Soccer regarding the role, according to The Independent.
Although no other names have been identified as potential replacements, U.S. Soccer will have to move quickly in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
The U.S. Soccer team lost in the Round of 16 during the 2022 World Cup after a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands in Qatar. The team will now look to improve upon its finish with a strong performance under a new coach in 2026.
