Gregg Berhalter fired as U.S. men’s soccer coach after Copa America first-round exit

Gregg Berhalter was fired as U.S. men's soccer coach on Wednesday, nine days after his team's first-round exit from the Copa America flamed doubts he was the right person to remain in charge for the 2026 World Cup.

Berhalter's second term as coach was cut short 10 months after he returned to the bench with high hopes and proclaimed the team's goal was "to change soccer in America forever." The U.S. had seven wins, six losses and one draw in his second stint, leaving his overall record at 44 wins, 17 losses and 13 draws.

Sporting director Matt Crocker rehired Berhalter and also will make the recommendation on his replacement. The team next plays in September friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.

"Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process," Crocker said in a statement.

Crocker and USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone issued statements, but did not immediately make themselves available to media for questions.

Jürgen Klopp, Thierry Henry and Marcelo Bielsa are among those being speculated about as candidates to replace Berhalter, along with Jesse Marsch, Hugo Pérez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino.

Salary could be an issue.

Berhalter earned $2,291,136 in 2022, including $900,000 in bonuses for the Americans qualifying for the World Cup and reaching the second round. A top-level men's coach could put pressure on the USSF to increase the salary of newly hired women's coach Emma Hayes.

Just 23 months remain before the World Cup comes to the United States for the second time and the Americans play their opener at Inglewood,