U.S. Soccer guarantees ‘complete evaluation’ after Copa exit

After the U.S. males’s nationwide soccer workforce did not get out of the group stage at Copa America regardless of a good draw and home-pitch benefit, the USA Soccer Federation vowed to conduct a evaluation of the outcomes.

The primary focus of that examination seemingly shall be coach Gregg Berhalter, already a lightning rod with the workforce’s fanbase even earlier than the U.S. misplaced two of its three Copa America matches and completed third in Group C.

The U.S. fell 1-0 to Uruguay in Kansas Metropolis, Mo., on Monday, 4 days after shedding 2-1 to Panama in Atlanta. The one victory for the Eleventh-ranked Individuals got here within the event opener towards 84th-ranked Bolivia. Panama, which completed second within the group after defeating Bolivia 3-1 on Monday, is ranked forty third. Uruguay, which swept its three matches, is rated 14th.

U.S. Soccer wrote in an announcement late Monday evening, “Our event efficiency fell wanting our expectations. We should do higher.

“We shall be conducting a complete evaluation of our efficiency in Copa America and the way finest to enhance the workforce and outcomes as we glance in the direction of the 2026 World Cup.”

Berhalter was requested immediately after the Uruguay defeat whether or not he felt he’s the appropriate individual to guide the U.S. squad into the 2026 World Cup, which it’ll co-host. He replied, “Sure.”

Berhalter added, “We all know we’re able to extra, and on this event, we did not present it, it is actually so simple as that.

“You take a look at the stage that was set with the followers on this event, with the excessive degree of competitors on this event, and we must always have executed higher. We’ll do a evaluation and work out what went incorrect and why it went incorrect, but it surely’s an empty feeling proper now, for positive.”

Whereas the U.S. workforce below Berhalter has dominated conventional rival Mexico in CONCACAF competitors, the coach’s ends in main tournaments have been mediocre.

Berhalter, 50, first received the job in December 2018 following a prolonged search that got here after the U.S. did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

The squad superior out of its group on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, recording attracts towards Wales and closely favored England earlier than edging Iran 1-0. The Netherlands beat Berhalter’s aspect 3-1 within the Spherical of 16.

Within the aftermath of the Qatar event, Berhalter was dragged right into a public spat with participant Gio Reyna and his household. The midfielder’s mother and father accused Berhalter of committing home abuse a long time earlier. In the meantime, Berhalter’s contract with U.S. Soccer expired, and the federation went via two interim coaches in 2023 earlier than in the end rehiring Berhalter.

The continuing Copa America was the U.S. workforce’s final main take a look at earlier than 2026. The USA, Mexico and Canada could have no qualifying matches forward of the subsequent World Cup, as all obtained computerized berths as co-hosts.

Midfielder Weston McKennie informed The Athletic concerning Berhalter, “I imagine all of us have a consolation with Gregg and all of us perceive him and we have had him for a very long time. He is progressed the workforce very removed from the place we began off 4 or 5 years in the past.

“I believe the connection that we now have with him is what’s essential, in having a coach that gamers … would run via a brick wall for him, gamers that hearken to him. And so I believe no matter occurs, occurs, however I believe if he is the coach, we’re all joyful, rise up, mud off, study and preserve shifting ahead. That is the one factor you are able to do now.”

–Subject Stage Media