What past USA soccer hires tell us about timetable for replacing fired USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter

Fans are expecting to wait quite a while, but that might not be the case if history is anything to go off of

By Chuck Booth Jul 11, 2024 at 2:06 pm ET• 2 min read

After the decision was made by U.S. Soccer to fire men's coach Gregg Berhalter, the search is already underway for his replacement. With plenty of names to sort through for sporting director Matt Crocker, time isn't on his side with the 2026 World Cup looming on home soil. After it was decided that Berhalter wasn't the right choice to lead the USMNT, there won't be much time for a new coach to instill their style for the USMNT either. 

With the next official match being on Sept. 7 against Canada before facing New Zealand on the 10th, a new coach has to be brought in for these friendlies to give them the best chance to get to know the team ahead of the last competitive matches that the USMNT will play in Concacaf Nations League. 

Here are some important upcoming dates for the USMNT to keep in mind:

• Sept. 7, 2024:Friendly against Canada
• Sept. 10, 2024: Friendly against New Zealand
• Oct. 12, 2024: Friendly against Panama
• Nov. 11-19, 2024:Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals
• March 20, 2025:Concacaf Nations League semifinals
• March 23, 2025:Concacaf Nations League final
• June 11-July 19, 2026:World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico

Some may be bracing for a long search since it took 10 months to re-hire Berhalter after his contract expired following the 2022 World Cup but there are a few reasons for that. Due to U.S. Soccer's investigation into a domestic violence incident in Berhalter's past, he couldn't be formally fired. Following the World Cup, Earnie Stewart was still the sporting director of U.S. Soccer as they announced a review of the World Cup performance, which was always going to take time.