United States men’s national team (USMNT) legend Alexi Lalas has said head coach Gregg Berhalter’s position should be under threat because the country “can’t afford to be embarrassed” at the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Mathias Olivera scored the only goal of the game in Kansas City as the US lost to Uruguay in their final 2024 Copa America group-stage match, becoming the first hosts to fail to reach the knockout phase since the group stage was introduced in 1975.
“I know there’s sport in firing coaches in all professional sports, and I know the knives are out — and they should be, because this is not good enough for Gregg Berhalter,” former defender Lalas told Copa America Tonight.
“With 2026 barreling down the pike… we can’t afford to waste it. We can’t afford to be embarrassed, and we can’t afford to arrive in the summer of ’26 with a team that has not progressed, that has not evolved, that has not improved.”
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— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) July 2, 2024
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USMNT Copa America results
Team bosses have launched a review after a campaign which was badly damaged by a surprise 2-1 defeat to Panama in the US’s second group-stage match, having beaten Bolivia 2-0 in their opener.
Berhalter’s record has been patchy since his re-appointment in June 2023, failing to guide the side ranked 11th by Fifa to wins over any opponents in the top 15 in 10 attempts.
The 50-year-old guided the US to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup with one win in four matches, and he is considered to have a gifted squad in their prime at his disposal.
Captain Christian Pulisic plays for Italian giants AC Milan, while the likes of Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson have established themselves in the Premier League.
Gregg Berhalter: ‘Problem going forward’
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Gio Reyna was one of the players who appeared to defend Berhalter after their Copa America campaign ended.
“I don’t think this tournament really had anything to do with the staff or the tactics or the way we play,” said Reyna. “It was more individual mistakes. The staff can only do so much.”
Lalas, who represented the US at the 1994 World Cup, was unconvinced. “I’m sure if Gregg Berhalter was here, he would say, ‘Oh, but you don’t see what’s happening inside’,” said Lalas. “I don’t give a c*** what is happening inside.
“I don’t care about the dynamic. I don’t care how much your players love you. I don’t care how ‘Kumbaya’ it is. All I care about is if I see a US men’s national team that is better than before. We haven’t seen that, and that’s a problem going forward.”
