The U.S. men’s national team had a prime opportunity heading into this summer to raise the program’s profile and take a major step forward ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Instead, the USMNT’s Copa America run ended in an embarrassing elimination in the group stage — a disappointment that falls squarely on head coach Gregg Berhalter.
But one moment, in particular, from Monday’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay will be impossible to overlook. It showed exactly why Berhalter is not the person to lead the most talented generation in the USMNT’s history beyond that match.
Just take a look:
USMNT fans and Gregg Berhalter appeared to realize Bolivia had leveled the score vs Panama and only seconds later Uruguay took the lead pic.twitter.com/Q1kkr2Gd6N
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2024
Following the USMNT’s shocking loss to Panama on Thursday, the team needed either a win (and maintain a goal-differential lead on Panama) or some major help from bottom-feeding Bolivia in its match against Panama. Now, the USMNT should have gone into its matchup with Uruguay with the sole focus on winning. If anything, the coaching staff and players should have ignored the Bolivia-Panama game entirely. It would have taken a miraculous result to make the match relevant.
Yet, in the 65th minute, word started to spread around Arrowhead Stadium that Bolivia had equalized against Panama, meaning the USMNT would have been through if both scores held at the time. Berhalter appeared to signal that Bolivia scored to his players right before Uruguay lined up for a free kick. And, of course, Uruguay scored seconds later on a goal that should have been ruled offside by VAR.
The fact that Berhalter even acknowledged the Bolivia score during the match was a huge problem, though. It showed the weakest mindset of relying on others instead of pushing forward to win on the USMNT’s own right. Heck, even Ted Lasso knew to ignore other score lines and never play for a tie. That’s how far the USMNT have fallen with Berhalter’s rehire. Dude is getting out-coached by fictional characters.
And worst of all: It made no sense to even communicate the score to the players because Bolivia-Panama still had 30 minutes left to play. It wasn’t like Bolivia had pulled off the tie. And Panama would respond with two more goals to make the USMNT in need of a win that it should have been playing for all along.
After 2026, the USMNT won’t get another opportunity to host a World Cup with a competitive talent pool for decades. And if Berhalter continues at the job, U.S. Soccer would have willingly wasted that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. While Berhalter’s body of work is disqualifying, that single moment should have been the final straw.
Gregg Berhalter's record against top-30 opponents, based on Elo ranking at the time of the game: pic.twitter.com/50BZ8X15fk
— Justin Moran (@kickswish) July 2, 2024
U.S. fans are ready for a change — that’s for sure.
If we were a serious country Berhalter would be fired in the tunnel. There's no need for a "comprehensive review." We failed spectacularly, there is no excuse that should save him.
And the fact the the players still want him should be extra motivation to fire his ass.
— 11 Yanks (@11Yanks) July 2, 2024
This was infuriating watching live. Why in the world is Berhalter signaling the score of another match to his players on the field when there's still 30+ minutes left in his own match?
You almost DESERVE to concede after that, so the goal coming seconds later is so fitting https://t.co/tQGE0ZyrNF
— Gavin Carlson (@GavinCarlson_) July 2, 2024
Relying on a helpless Bolivia team to get you past the group stage tells you everything you need to know about the mentality of this team. A rude awakening is happening and rightfully so. Pathetic from HC to bottom. https://t.co/6rCVrLtRw4
— Kody Duncan (@KodyDuncan1) July 2, 2024
Telling the players it 1-1 in a game out of your control is so sad it’s laughable. What a pathetic leader https://t.co/pODwG7h0cI
— bach (@rendanbach13) July 2, 2024
I still can’t get over this moment. Why are we even telling them what the score is https://t.co/yIR8A3jaGy
— BMF (@Brantlee) July 2, 2024
Gregg, moments before Uruguay scored. https://t.co/jTOFSdeOv8 pic.twitter.com/3olCgg4bYF
— kevin harrish (@Kevinish) July 2, 2024
Correct. This showed a ton of weakness. https://t.co/EQGFP4nD05
— Nick Verlaney (@nickverlaney) July 2, 2024
Noticed this as well. Scoreboard watching and hoping for Bolivia to do your work with 30 minutes left in the game has to be the oddest thing I’ve seen a coach do in any sport https://t.co/JX36elRSiM
— SportsTalkATL.com (@SportsTalkATL) July 2, 2024
This alone should be enough to fire him a 2nd time https://t.co/Lg9cX28zeg
— Walt (@WheredWaldoGo) July 2, 2024
