It’s finally over, the USMNT fans have gotten their wish. After almost six years since his first appointment, Gregg Berhalter is gone. 

The decision came after a “comprehensive review” the U.S. Soccer Federation did following the group stage exit in the Copa America.

The exit made the U.S. the first host country to get knocked out from group stage since the current Copa America format was introduced in 1993. It was also the first time the USMNT get knocked out from group stage in an international tournament hosted in the U.S. They’ve gotten to the knockout stage in the previous 20 times.

What happened on the pitch was not the only reason why he got fired. Following the elimination, the fans’ voices got louder. In fact, the interest in the USMNT has never been as high as it is now, with many fans even boycotting the sponsors and emailing the employees of the Federation.

That’s not all either. The media, which has usually defended Berhalter, turned against him too. FOX, ESPN, The Athletic, and all the American soccer reporters who are there at every USMNT press conference started calling for his head.

With the World Cup just two years away, the Federation had to make the decision. Not only are they getting negative PR with Berhalter still at the helm, but they also know fans will stop showing up to games and buying merchandise. The team is already struggling to sell out stadiums, so they can’t take more damage.

Finally, they announced the decision today. It’s not an easy one though, as Berhalter was just reappointed last summer and was given a contract until the end of the 2026 World Cup, which means he’s getting a decent payout for getting fired.

This also means sporting director Matt Crocker’s “global coaching search” and all the tests, the metrics, and the data analytics he used failed. He had to fire his guy within a year. So now, that’s going to look bad on his CV.

But Crocker’s CV can improve though, if he can get this next appointment right and if the USMNT go on to do big things in the World Cup.

What’s next for this team? Who’s going to come and lead them in the home World Cup? Let’s take a look at some of the candidates.

One name a lot of USMNT fans have been begging for is Jurgen Klopp. A dream candidate.

People have been shouting out his name as soon as the USMNT got eliminated from the Copa America. The noise got louder after former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard wrote that if he were in charge of the Federation, he would be on a plane to Europe to convince Klopp to take the job. FOX Sports host Rob Stone also spoke about his pitch to get Klopp.

The reason for people wanting Klopp is simple. He’s done a tremendous job at club level, getting Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund to fight for the biggest trophies. He did a decent job at Mainz too with a limited budget, which got him noticed by Dortmund about 15 years ago.

Obviously fluent in English, he’s a good man manager who is well liked by players and fans. And he is not shy speaking with the media either. That’s important especially if the USMNT want to dominate the American sports media ahead of the home World Cup.

The timing is perfect too. He just left Liverpool to take a sabbatical after an exhausting nine-year spell in England. International football is much more relaxing than club football, and he won’t be managing all the time. It’s perfect for someone who still wants to stay in the game but won’t have to deal with day-to-day work and pressure.

Despite all that though, it will be hard to get him due to the salary demand and the USMNT not being an attractive job for top level managers. So let’s take a look at more realistic candidates.

FOX Sports’ USMNT insider Dough McIntyre said that Steve Cherundolo could possibly be a target for the Federation. After representing the USMNT in three World Cups, he’s gained coaching knowledge in Germany and now works for LAFC— where he’s won the MLS Cup.

However, even with his great playing experience, he’s not a popular candidate with the fans simply because he’s still a young and a very inexperienced coach. Giving him the keys to the USMNT in what’s supposed to be their biggest World Cup is not ideal.

If the USMNT want to stick with American coaches, there is David Wagner, who is currently unemployed but has experience in the Premier League and the Bundesliga, as well as having played for the USMNT.

There is also Pellegrino Matarazzo, but he is currently employed with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. So the likelihood of him leaving that job for the USMNT seems low.

Jim Curtin from Philadelphia Union was a name some fans used to shout for, but his stock has fallen off a cliff this year. Hugo Perez could be another option but he doesn’t really see himself as someone suited for that role.

When you look outside of the American coaches, Hervé Renard is certainly a name a lot of USMNT fans like. He did a great job with Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup, beating Argentina and going toe-to-toe with Poland and Mexico. He’s also a vastly experienced coach who won two Africa Cup of Nations titles with Zambia and Ivory Coast.

Then, there is Joachim Low, who won the World Cup for Germany a decade ago but hasn't worked since leaving in 2021. He could be a realistic get for the USMNT.

Crocker said today that the search has already begun and money is not a problem. He also said this is a global search once again, so it won’t be limited to just American coaches but the best coaches they can possibly get.

Hopefully, it’s one that can elevate this team and get the best out of the players. The 2026 World Cup is not just important for this team but very important for the sport in this country. Crocker will now have to get this appointment right, or else his reputation is going to take a further hit.