In the tempestuous world of soccer, stability often serves as a refuge amid the swirl of ever-changing tactics, formations, and footballing philosophies. Yet, at times, the quest for stability can thrust one into the very eye of the storm, as evidenced by the U.S. Soccer Federation's decision to reappoint Gregg Berhalter as the head coach of the United States Men's National Team.
There is a part of me as someone that follows this team and eagerly gobbles up every piece of media, news, and highlights that hates this decision only because it’s boring. But I want to try to slice through that boringness to get to the root of it all. Is this a good or bad hire?
Let me say this before we even discuss sporting merit and the other baggage that comes along with rehiring Berhalter: The timing of this hire and announcement was unprofessional and unbecoming of a professional organization that supposedly takes itself seriously. If US Soccer truly wanted to start fresh even with Berhalter, why make the announcement during the USA vs Mexico Nations League match. The immediate fallout called for interviews where players like Pulisic backed Berhalter. Which in itself is absolutely fine - but instead of the message being about the players embracing their head coach, it became a deflection tactic for US Soccer and their social media team. It all felt like Cindy Parlow-Cone, Matt Crocker, and the admins of Instagram and Twitter tried way too hard to make this a positive move. It was quickly obvious to any observer that US Soccer knows this is a deeply unpopular decision in which every single action of the federation is making it worse and worse.
You just have to laugh at the hilariously timed press conference, the social media blitz on Gregg Berhalter’s “historic” record, and the release of the “robust hiring process” which by the way included just three slides. I really hate it too because I want to support this team, I want to support Gregg, and I want to have a real conversation on the merits of his ability to bring this team success, but the surrounding circus makes it difficult to do any of that.
The circus includes the hilarious decision for Gregg to not coach the upcoming Gold Cup. Out of all the things to come from this process, this one might be the most baffling. US Soccer hired a coach but the coach won’t coach the team until later because… ? Why? Why would Berhalter not coach a regional tournament that starts weeks after his hiring date? I don’t understand.
And then there is the conspiracy arm of USMNT twitter lovingly dubbed “QSMNT.” Look… there are plenty of actual critiques of Gregg that we should discuss, but USMNT Twitter peddles absurd conspiracies and causes so much more harm to the actual discussion at hand.
Rarely have we seen coaches in the highest positions be loved by their team and vehemently hated by that same team’s fanbase. Gregg Berhalter will start his second reign already on a hotseat that is being lit on fire. A risky move if I do say so myself.
All of this combined with the incendiary approach to announcing the hiring decision creates a world where it becomes increasingly difficult to discuss on actual merit. So I am going to do my best in the words below.
Having steered the USMNT through statistically one of the most difficult groups of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Berhalter has now been tasked with guiding the team into the familiar waters of the 2026 World Cup, on home soil. This decision, however, has not been without controversy.
A former international player with 44 caps for the USMNT, Berhalter embarked on his coaching journey in 2011. After honing his craft in Sweden and with Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, Berhalter was handed the reins of the national team in 2018. While the hiring process was tainted with some light nepotism, his four-year tenure was laden with silverware, with the 2021 Nations League and Gold Cup trophies standing as proud testaments to his success.
However, his leadership style wasn't without its critics. The most poignant criticism stemmed from his handling of young star winger, Gio Reyna, during the World Cup in Qatar. Berhalter's decision to bench Reyna for the opening game against Wales caused a ripple of discontent. A subsequent controversy involving Berhalter's comments about a player, rumored to be Reyna, during an off-record leadership conference, gave rise to stormy headlines, while a separate incident from Berhalter's past was dug up, causing further ripples. An independent investigation, however, cleared Berhalter for re-hiring.
The Federation's decision to bring back Berhalter, therefore, feels like a step taken in pursuit of stability, even though it is fraught with potential pitfalls. Berhalter's impressive 37-11-12 record, the highest win percentage among USMNT coaches, provides a statistical justification for his reappointment, but stats often fail to provide the complete picture.
While many players, including stars like Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, have expressed their support for Berhalter, the larger question here is not merely about individual personalities, but about the direction of U.S. Soccer as a whole. After the dramatic fallout from the Reyna controversy, can the same coach continue to effectively guide a team brimming with young talents? Will there be lingering issues, or has the storm truly passed?
Ricardo Pepi who was left off the 2022 World Cup roster by Berhalter said “I think it’s great, to be honest. It’s great for the squad. Personally I think that everything that happened between us stays behind us.”
The historical context also presents an interesting perspective. The second-cycle success rate of managers paints a challenging picture, with a noted regression in win percentages for managers leading their teams into consecutive World Cups. However, every cycle, every team, and indeed, every manager is unique.
Berhalter's challenge will be to draw upon his experience from the previous cycle, while at the same time evolving his tactical and man-management approach to keep pace with a fast-evolving international football landscape.
Will Berhalter rise to the challenge and steer the USMNT to uncharted territories in 2026? Or will his second cycle be another instance of history repeating itself? Only time will tell. Until then, all eyes will be on Berhalter and the USMNT, watching, waiting, and anticipating the next move in this complex dance of stability and success.
For now, the quest for stability continues, even as the echoes of controversy linger. Yet, as in soccer, controversy can be a conduit for growth and transformation, a crucible where leaders are forged and teams find their true identity.
Berhalter's success will hinge on his ability to embrace the lessons from his past and use them to navigate the complexities of the present, all while keeping an unwavering gaze towards a future where the U.S. can indeed stake its claim as a force to be reckoned with in the world of international soccer.
The Federation's decision to retain Berhalter as the USMNT coach has added yet another layer of intrigue for anyone that considers themselves an agent of chaos (I know I do). What comes next is a narrative as uncertain and unpredictable as the game itself.
Get ready for Berhalter part II.
One element missing from this article is the belief held by me and many other fans is that Berhalter has held this team back. Despite having the best record of previous managers, he is managing the most talented player pool in history. Questionable call-ups and tactics have marred his tenure leading to the “what ifs” plaguing many fans’ minds. The dominant performance the team just put out, could that have been accomplished under Berhalter? I’m not sure. I wish the team could have a clean slate but that’s not happening. Additionally, it seems as though the equal equity (I’m not we’ll versed in the actual linguistics of the decision) with the women's team might have played a role in the hiring process due to an inability to pay the Men’s manager more than the women’s. Hence, why did the federation flaunt a world wide search merely to land back on a manager who has so much baggage associated with him? His only saving grace seems to be the favor he’s won among some of the locker room, but we certainly won’t hear any discontent so it must be taken with a grain of salt in my opinion.
Nice article, Jake.
--> Your third paragraph (timing of the announcement) is spot-on. It couldn't be better said.
--> Your fifth paragraph (Gold Cup) is perfect. There's not even the excuse that the "new" coach needs to take a moment to acquaint himself with the player pool. This is his own player pool (with the exception of Balogun). He knows the squad and they know him. There's no need for an "introductory period". Even with a brand new (foreign) manager I'd expect him to take over already.
--> About Pepi's quote: What do we expect the 20-year-old to say? That he thinks another manager would have been better? To remain silent? With the real prospect of falling to 2nd in the striker depth chart behind Balogun, of course he's going to want to re-establish a good relationship with Berhalter.
--> What I'd like to know is: What was the candidate pool like? Was there even an attempt at trying to find a coach with a better resumé? How much was offered as salary? A well-established, qualified international manager might cost more, but World Cup 2026 will be a financial windfall for US Soccer; and paying someone who could get us out of the quarterfinals would be worth it in the long-run.
--> Is there a clause for releasing him based on Copa America results? If the US is not ready under his *continued* leadership next summer, then he should be ditched while there's time to attract a new coach. An international coach with a good resumé might be willing to step in a year-and-a-half before the World Cup.