Berhalter Sacked

On This Day in 2024, The Copa América Collapse That Ended Gregg Berhalter's Second Act

On July 10, Gregg Berhalter's tumultuous second tenure as head coach of the United States Men's National Team came to an abrupt end, just over a year after his controversial reappointment. The 50-year-old coach, who had survived domestic violence allegations and family feuds to reclaim his position, finally succumbed to the unforgiving mathematics of tournament football. Nine days earlier, the United States had suffered the ignominy of becoming the first Copa América host nation since 1987 to exit in the group stage. What should have been a showcase for American soccer's golden generation instead became a cautionary tale of wasted potential and tactical missteps.

The tournament began with promise. Against Bolivia, the Americans displayed the clinical efficiency expected from a team boasting 20 European-based players—a record for the national program. But the veneer of competence quickly cracked. Tim Weah's reckless red card against Panama in the 18th minute exposed the mental fragility that had plagued this group, and despite taking the lead, the Americans surrendered a 2-1 defeat that would prove fatal. The final group match against Uruguay became a microcosm of Berhalter's flawed approach. With his team desperately needing a victory, the coach was caught informing his players about Panama's concurrent score rather than focusing on their own performance. Uruguay capitalized on this distraction, scoring from a free kick while American minds wandered to other pitches.

Berhalter's journey back to the national team dugout had been anything but conventional. His initial contract expired after the 2022 World Cup, where, despite reaching the knockout round, questions lingered about his tactical limitations. What followed was a months-long soap opera involving midfielder Gio Reyna's parents, who weaponized a decades-old domestic violence incident to torpedo Berhalter's reputation after their son's reduced role in Qatar. The independent investigation that eventually cleared Berhalter created an uncomfortable backdrop for his return. Sporting director Matt Crocker, barely a year into his role, made the decision to rehire a coach whose authority had been publicly undermined, betting on continuity over a fresh start.

That gamble spectacularly backfired. Under Berhalter's second reign, the Americans managed just seven wins in 14 matches, including a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Colombia, which served as an ominous warm-up for the Copa América. The team, which had been hailed as the most talented in program history, struggled to score, managing one goal or fewer in seven of their final nine games.

"We had clear benchmarks for Copa América that the team did not hit," Crocker admitted during a hastily arranged video conference with reporters. The diplomatic language couldn't mask the reality: expectations had been shattered, and someone had to pay the price. The timing was particularly cruel for American soccer. With the 2026 World Cup less than two years away—a tournament that would be partially hosted on home soil—the federation found itself starting over at the worst possible moment. As the host nation, the US already earned automatic qualification, but also heightened pressure to deliver a performance worthy of the sport's growing American audience.

Steve Cherundolo of Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew's Wilfried Nancy emerged as early domestic candidates, while whispers of interest in Jürgen Klopp, fresh from his Liverpool triumph, reflected the federation's ambitious thinking. The reality of competing with European clubs for top coaching talent, however, remained daunting given the financial constraints of international football. Berhalter's legacy remained complicated. His initial tenure had restored respectability to a program that had missed the 2018 World Cup entirely. He introduced young talent, cultivated team chemistry, and implemented a more progressive playing style. But his 44-17-13 record, while impressive statistically, masked a troubling inability to defeat elite competition outside of regional rivals.

"I remain confident this group will be one of the great stories in 2026," Berhalter said in his farewell statement, maintaining his belief in the players. The question now was whether a new voice could unlock the potential that had remained frustratingly dormant under his watch. As American soccer entered another period of uncertainty, the Copa América debacle served as a stark reminder that talent alone does not guarantee success. The countdown to 2026 had begun, and the margin for error had never been smaller.