In a surprising turn of events, Gregg Berhalter will resume his job as the head coach of the United States men’s national team. The news was officially announced by U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) on Friday.
According to the announcement, Berhalter will lead the national team at least through the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to take place in US, Canada, and Mexico.
Berhalter saw his contract expire after the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he led the USMNT to the Round of 16. The USSF decided not to give him a renewal at the time and instead conducted a widespread search that included looking into Jesse Marsch and Patrick Viera as candidates.
In the meantime, it looked like Berhalter was also ready to move on. He emerged as a candidate for the managerial job at Championship side Swansea City while also being courted by a number of other clubs like Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam.
However, the USSF and sporting director Matt Crocker apparently were not wowed by any outside candidates and decided to hand over the reins of the team back to Berhalter. The 49-year-old led the USMNT in 60 matches, recording 37 wins, 12 draws, and 11 losses.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to build on our achievements at the World Cup and to contribute to this exciting time for soccer in our country,” said Berhalter in a statement. “The entire group of players and staff have worked incredibly hard to establish our identity on and off the field. We look forward to continuing our journey together to make our fans and our nation proud.”
