"Bitterly disappointed" US team suffers total loss at Copa
The USA is part of the hosting trio for the 2026 Football World Cup, but two years before the major event, there's a grim mood in US soccer: The National Team was knocked out of the Copa America in the group stage.
Two years before the Home-World Championship, the US Soccer National Team failed in the group stage of the Copa America on their home soil. Against Uruguay, the team led by former Bundesliga professionals Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Chris Richards lost 0:1 in Kansas City.
In Group C, the USA finished in third place after losing two out of three matches. Uruguay won all three group games, and Panama advanced to the quarterfinals in second place. A win against Uruguay was essential for the USA to make it to the knockout stage of the tournament.
"We had a good start with a lot of energy, but at the end of the day, the quality just wasn't enough," former Dortmund professional Pulisic said on US television. Coach Gregg Berhalter and the team were heavily criticized in US media immediately after the elimination. "We're bitterly disappointed with the result. We know we can do better. We didn't show it in this tournament. We should have done better," Berhalter said.
"Fire Gregg!"
The coach, who returned to the job after a brief resignation in 2023, is now facing a fresh headwind on the way to the Home-WM: During the second half on Monday evening, the spectators began to chant: "Fire Gregg." The CBS experts had already predicted before the game that Berhalter "had to win to keep his job."
The US broadcaster NBC misses the development under the former Bundesliga professional (Energie Cottbus, 1860 Munich): Since Berhalter's return, "nothing has changed. Berhalter hasn't managed to lead the USA to victories against stronger teams, most successes were achieved against smaller teams." On FOX, former national player Clint Dempsey complained: "I'm at a loss for words. Where have we made progress since 2002? We haven't made any!"
Despite the USA's role in hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their preparations took a disappointing turn during the 2024 Copa America on home soil. The USA's national soccer team ended up in third place in Group C, failing to advance to the knockout stage after losing to Uruguay.
The US Soccer National Team's poor performance in the Copa America sparked calls for change, with spectators chanting "Fire Gregg!" during a game, placing further pressure on coach Gregg Berhalter, who had recently returned to the job following a brief resignation.
