Over the past year, the U.S. Men’s National Team has faced a turbulent period, including a shocking group stage exit at the Copa America and disappointing performances at home in both the Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup. The early Copa America elimination ultimately led to the dismissal of long-time head coach Gregg Berhalter and the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino to guide the team into 2024.
In the PULISIC documentary, now streaming on Paramount+, Berhalter reflected on the team’s struggles on the biggest stages as the U.S. prepares to host the 2026 World Cup.
“It was a total disaster from start to finish,” Berhalter admitted. “We received a red card in the Panama match, and the Uruguay game involved some very questionable refereeing. When you fail like that, you’re responsible, and it exposes you to the possibility of being fired — that’s coaching at the highest level.”
Coaches at this level face brutal expectations, as the USMNT aims to compete for every regional title. Coming into the Copa America, the team had secured three straight Nations League championships and anticipated at least advancing beyond the group stage.
