U.S. Soccer has high expectations for on-field success at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but recent weeks have “shown how much ground the U.S. has to make up in order to be a true contender,” according to Beaton & Robinson of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Copa America was “viewed as an ideal launchpad” for the USMNT, and it “came in as one of the highest-ranked teams and hoped to ride home-field advantage into a deep run.” Instead, it “turned into a flameout” that saw the team fail to advance out of group play and coach Gregg Berhalter fired (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/10). In D.C., Steven Goff noted Copa América was the “biggest test” for the USMNT leading up to the World Cup, The USSF sees the World Cup as an “opportunity for the national team to make breakthrough gains on the field and grow the sport’s popularity.” However, the Copa América results were a “bitter disappointment” (WASHINGTON POST, 7/10).
CRUCIAL TO NAIL NEXT HIRE: The POST’s Goff in a separate piece writes it is up to USSF Sporting Dir Matt Crocker “to find the proper replacement” for Berhalter. After re-hiring Berhalter last summer, Crocker “can’t miss the mark” as “too much is at stake.” Crocker indicated one difference from last summer’s search is the fact he’s been in his job for a full year. Crocker: “I’m a lot clearer and a lot more confident in what I see … on what I think we need going forward. … I’m in a better place to have a much more of a targeted search, where I’ll be more inclined to go hard and go early with specific candidates that I feel meet the criteria that we’re looking for” (WASHINGTON POST, 7/11). In Philadelphia, Jonathan Tannenwald wrote, “If you’re going to change a manager before a World Cup, especially one you’re cohosting, you can’t wait much longer than two years out to do it so that the next boss has enough time.” Crocker’s next decision “should cheer up a U.S. fan base that saw him make a big-time hire for the women’s team last fall in Emma Hayes.” He can now “put his stamp on the men’s program” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/10).
POTENTIAL FITS: THE ATHLETIC’s Paul Tenorio wrote the “question now pivots to where Crocker will look to replace Berhalter.” Many fans have gone to social media advocating for former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, but that “seems more fantasy than reality” (THE ATHLETIC, 7/10). The AP’s Ronald Blum noted Klopp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Marcelo Bielsa are “among those being speculated about as candidates to replace Berhalter. Other names include Jesse Marsch, Hugo Pérez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino. However, salary “could be an issue.” Berhalter earned around $2.3M in 2022, including $900,000 “in bonuses for the Americans qualifying for the World Cup and reaching the second round.” A top-level men’s coach also could “put pressure on the USSF to increase the salary” for Hayes (AP, 7/10). USA TODAY’s Jack McKessy noted LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo is a “top candidate U.S. Soccer could look to if they hope to stay with a coach who is already within the U.S. Soccer Federation umbrella.” McKessy also listed Union coach Jim Curtin as “one of its other best options” if U.S. Soccer “wants an ‘in-house’ option that isn’t Cherundolo.” He has been the Union coach since 2014 and has “established himself as one of the league’s best coaches.” McKessy wrote Klopp is “never going to be the head coach of the United States men’s national team, but it is a fun dream to have” (USA TODAY, 7/10).
JUMPING INTO THE ‘POOL? The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Beaton & Robinson noted U.S. fans “dream of a high-profile coach swooping in and saving the team,” and Klopp “would fit the bill.” But there are “major questions about whether the federation would shell out enough money to lure in someone of that caliber.” Even if it did, the “uphill climb the squad faces might make the post undesirable for some of the world’s biggest names” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/10). SI’s Ryan Phillips noted the USSF has a “chance to make a federation-changing move” by hiring Klopp. There are “reasons Klopp could be interested,” including the fact running a national team is “far less taxing on managers schedule-wise.” He also “might embrace that as he recharges to return to club football eventually.” There also are “plenty of hurdles that stand in the way of Klopp coming to America,” including that his salary at Liverpool was rumored to be around $20M Phillips: “None of that means U.S. soccer shouldn’t throw everything at trying to bring Klopp on board” (SI, 7/10).
BLAME GETS SPREAD AROUND: CBSSPORTS.com’s Pardeep Cattry wrote Berhalter’s poor showings “mean blame also falls to the U.S. Soccer higher-ups who re-hired him last summer.” Despite Berhalter’s work during his first spell in charge, his return to the national team was “not universally praised — in fact, many responded to the news by admitting he had work to do to prove he deserved to resume the role.” After Copa America, it “feels like U.S. Soccer wasted two years, first waiting to re-hire Berhalter and then to see him demonstrate that he was not up for the job.” The “failed Berhalter experiment” of the last year “ultimately forces questions of the recruitment process, too” (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/10).
A look inside SBC’s Fellowship visit to SBJ; the NBA’s media rights take another step forward; previewing a big weekend in soccer across the globe and recapping The Stanleys.
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