It’s official USMNT fans. Gregg Berhalter has been announced as the head coach of the national team, first reported by The Athletic.
Gregg Berhalter has been chosen to lead the #USMNT to the 2026 FIFA World Cup » https://t.co/ObcP1tCbvH pic.twitter.com/c85nwVS9to
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) June 16, 2023
BREAKING: Gregg Berhalter is set to return as manager of the #USMNT, according to multiple sources briefed on the negotiations.
Deal still being finalized, but return is imminent.Reporting with @MLSist: https://t.co/TnDBwhFB5a
— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) June 16, 2023
Berhalter oversaw the men’s side from 2018 until the end of the USMNT’s 2022 World Cup run in Qatar. After his contract ran out he became the forefront of a vicious and scandalous blackmail incident between him and the family of star player Gio Reyna.
The Reynas, angered by their son's lack of playing time and Berhalter's critical comments about him, informed the USSF of an incident in 1992 when Berhalter kicked his now wife. An investigation was done by Alston and Bird in which they concluded in March there was no legal risk to rehire him.
It looked as if U.S. Soccer was going to move on from Berhalter and find a new coach with big names like José Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane, Jesse Marsch and others rumored to have been contacted.
After six months of interim head coaches Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan in charge, the USMNT is right back where it started in the head coaching world.
Former U.S. international Clint Dempsey was critical about the decision and why it took so long to end up with the same man in charge.
During the CBS broadcast of the USMNT’s 3-0 victory vs. Mexico he criticized the decision saying he was confused. He was hesitant to say if Berhalter would have been his choice.
Clint Dempsey Gregg Berhalter reaction
"I'm confused... If you go back with Berhalter then we've wasted a lot of time. Why have we wasted this much time to go back with who we had in the beginning?"@Clint_dempsey reacts to the reports of Gregg Berhalter returning as manager of the #USMNT. pic.twitter.com/22Y6yTQBdS
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 16, 2023
Clint Dempsey on Berhalter, Reyna, and what he thought should have gone down after the WC: pic.twitter.com/2KU4q6e5JO
— Bob Morocco (@bob_morocco) June 16, 2023
Berhalter will be in charge of another four-year cycle and until the 2026 World Cup. Reports are saying he won’t be at the helm until after the 2023 Gold Cup.
There are several big chapters of Berhalter’s next stint that will be interesting to see unfold. How will he make amends with Reyna? Will he and Ricardo Pepi be on good terms after snubbing him from the World Cup?
Pepi had no comment on the news of Berhalter being put in charge again.
In case you haven't seen it.
This is @jennyachiu asking Pepi for his thoughts about the reports of Berhalter coming back.https://t.co/d9FZHekYIV pic.twitter.com/wIJbzzleIp
— USMNT CORNER (@USMNTCORNER) June 16, 2023
Berhalter does have the support of several key figures. Christian Pulisic gave credit to the American head coach after the 3-0 victory vs. Mexico.
"Today is a testament of the work that (Gregg Berhalter) put into this team. If that's not enough evidence, then that's all right. People are gonna hate no matter what."
— Christian Pulisic after USMNT 3-0 win against Mexico(via @PaulTenorio) pic.twitter.com/xp8ItZFGVQ
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) June 16, 2023
Timothy Weah has also given his endorsement of GGG.
Tim Weah: “Hopefully [Gregg Berhalter] comes back.”
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) June 9, 2023
The fanbase will be Berhalter’s biggest critics. They were incredibly vocal about the announcement.
Gregg Berhalter returning to the US National Team is everything that’s wrong with the US National Team
— Zealand (@theoldzealand) June 16, 2023
Your federation is a joke, can’t wait for more mediocrity
— Austin Armstrong (@Austin_A2020) June 16, 2023
This team has so much potential going into the 2026 World Cup. They deserve a much better coach leading them. Really strange decision.
— Diego (@abcDeegs) June 16, 2023
A golden generation at a home World Cup all down the drain because of one man
— Paddy D III (@PaddyDIII) June 16, 2023
During Berhalter’s 2018-2022 run at the helm he finished with a record of 37 wins, 11 losses and 12 draws. He led the team to a Concacaf Nations League title, a Gold Cup crown and the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup.
His first true test will be the 2024 Copa América hosted in the U.S. next summer.
