The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) suffered a disappointing exit from the Copa America after a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay in their final group-stage match. The loss left them in third place in Group C, with only the top two teams advancing to the knockout rounds.
This result has reignited the debate surrounding head coach Gregg Berhalter’s future. Despite the team’s struggles, Berhalter remained defiant, insisting he’s the right person to lead them into the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
“We’re bitterly disappointed in the results,”
Berhalter admitted.
The USMNT started the tournament with a promising 2-0 victory over Bolivia, but their momentum fizzled out with back-to-back losses to Panama and Uruguay.
“We know that we’re capable of more and at this tournament we didn’t show it,”
he acknowledged.
When pressed about his leadership role in the context of the 2026 World Cup, Berhalter offered a resolute “Yes.” However, his re-appointment in June 2023 was already a controversial decision following an internal investigation into his conduct surrounding allegations made during the 2022 World Cup.
US Soccer acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in a statement released by sporting director Matt Crocker.
“The performance of the national team at Copa America fell short of our expectations,”
Crocker stated.
“We must do better.”
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The statement further confirmed a “comprehensive review” of the team’s performance to identify areas for improvement before the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Meanwhile, Uruguay celebrated a perfect group-stage campaign with three wins from three matches. Mathias Olivera’s goal in Kansas City sealed their victory over the US and secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
Berhalter emphasized the importance of moving forward.
“You have to keep moving forward,”
he stressed.
“It’s not where you say OK, this program is doomed. That’s not the case at all. It was a poor performance, we didn’t get the results that we expected and we need to get better.”
While Berhalter remains confident, his position appears precarious. The upcoming review by US Soccer and the team’s underwhelming performance will likely intensify scrutiny and potentially lead to a leadership change before the crucial 2026 World Cup.
