The United States men's national team's disappointing performance at Copa América, marked by a loss to Panama and a costly red card, has sparked intense scrutiny of head coach Gregg Berhalter's position. With the team's qualification for the knockout round hanging in the balance, pressure is mounting on Berhalter to deliver results or face potential dismissal.
The United States men's national team's (USMNT) hopes of advancing to the knockout round of Copa América suffered a major setback with a 2-1 loss to Panama in their second group stage match. The defeat, coupled with a costly red card to forward Tim Weah in the 18th minute, has put the team in a precarious position.
USMNT's Copa América Failure Could Spell End of Gregg Berhalter Era
Panama dominated possession for much of the game, peppering the USMNT with 12 shots, including six on target. The American defense struggled to contain Panama's attacking threats, and ultimately paid the price for Weah's suspension.
Gregg Berhalter, who has been at the helm of the USMNT since 2018, has come under intense scrutiny in recent years. The team's failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and its disappointing elimination in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup have raised questions about Berhalter's ability to lead the team to success.
The USMNT's potential failure to advance beyond the group stage of Copa América could have significant ramifications for Berhalter and the team's future. Fox Sports host Alexi Lalas has called for significant changes if the team fails to qualify, suggesting that Berhalter could be replaced.
"There has to be ramifications for something like that. There has to be a response from the United States soccer federation [because] 2026 is too important... This is a privilege. This is an honor to coach the US men's national team, and with it comes responsibility, and with it comes a certain level of belief that you are going to do things," Lalas said.
The USMNT's fate now hinges on their upcoming match against Uruguay on July 1. A win would likely secure their place in the knockout round, while a loss would likely end their hopes of advancing.
Coach Berhalter faces a difficult task in replacing Weah, who has been a vital part of the team's attack. Lalas has suggested that Yunus Musah or Gio Reyna could be potential candidates to fill his position.
The absence of Sergino Dest, who has been ruled out of Copa América with a torn ACL, further complicates Berhalter's lineup choices. Dest has been a key player for the USMNT, providing attacking threat down the left flank. His loss is a significant blow to the team's hopes.
Despite the setbacks, the USMNT still has hope of advancing to the knockout round. Folarin Balogun has impressed with two goals in the tournament so far, and will be counted on to lead the attack against Uruguay.
The team's performance against Panama has raised serious questions about Berhalter's future as coach. A failure to reach the knockout round would likely spell the end of his tenure and trigger a major shake-up within the USMNT.
