January 2023, one month after the 2022 World Cup ended, United States head coach Gregg Berhalter was let go after a past incident came to light. On June 16, the United States Federation announced that he had been rehired as the head coach of the USMNT.
Berhalter was hired in 2018 to help guide the United States after the team didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup. After a stellar playing career, expectations were high for Berhalter as the United States’ young talent had burst onto the scene.
After four years of hard work, the United States qualified for the 2022 World Cup. The drama began with the World Cup selection as fans, former players and others criticized Berhalter for not taking striker Ricardo Pepi.
The critics were in full force after a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands. After the exit, a report came out that back in college, Berhalter assaulted his wife, Rosalind Berhalter. This incident was reported by Claudio Reyna, Berhalter’s former teammate, and father of current player Giovani Reyna.
After the incident was reported, Berhalter was let go as head coach of the team, and Anthony Hudson was put in his place as interim head coach. Then after a couple of months, Coach Anthony Hudson took another job, leaving the U.S. back at square one.
After 10 plus candidates were interviewed, new sporting director Matt Crocker went back to a familiar face. He hired coach Berhalter back as the team’s head coach. His contract runs through the 2026 World Cup. Interim coach BJ Callahan will remain head coach for the nations league final on Sunday, and for the Gold Cup this summer. Berhalter will take over after the Gold Cup.
The 2026 World Cup is on home soil as it is being split between Mexico, Canada and the United States, which means all three will automatically qualify for the world cup. Berhalter finished his first stint as coach 37-11-12, becoming the most successful coach in U.S history.
Director Matt Crocker thought he brought the vision and took the team to new heights. Crocker said, “When I started this search, my focus was on finding someone with the right vision to take this program to new heights in 2026”.
Crocker continued, “Gregg has that vision as well as the experience and the growth mindset on and off the pitch to move this team forward.” Coach Berhalter was thankful for the opportunity to be back with the team.
“I want to thank Matt and the entire list for the trust they’ve placed in me,” Berhalter said. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to build on our achievements at the World Cup and to contribute to this exciting time for soccer in our country.”
Berhalter will have to mend fences, but aside from his feelings and coaching soccer, if he does that, the United States, with the core of Christian Pulisic, Weston Mckinnie and Tyler Adams, can have a great future. If they can all gel together, the U.S. can make a run in the Gold Cup, compete well in the World Cup and prove this rehire was not a mistake.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JaydenBarfuss10