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Fans Call for Gregg Berhalter's Job After Colombia Routs United States in Friendly
The United States men's national soccer team played an international friendly against Colombia on Saturday as both teams prepare for Copa America and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the United States starting 11 players from Europe's five most prominent leagues for the first time, not much went well for the Americans. Colombia took a 2–0 lead in the game's first 19 minutes and ran away with a 5–1 win, the biggest margin in a loss of coach Gregg Berhalter's tenure on the United States sidelines.
No team had scored five goals against the United States since Mexico in the 2009 Gold Cup final. It was the United States' first time losing by four or more goals since a 4–0 loss to Costa Rica in 2016 that led to the firing of then-coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Berhalter, who was hired as the USMNT head coach in 2018, was appointed last summer to lead the Americans to the 2026 World Cup. U.S. soccer fans weren't happy with Saturday's result, however, and their calls for a coaching change grew louder.
Imaging bringing back Gregg Berhalter
— Mike Ryan (Ruiz) 🙌🏽 (@MichaelRyanRuiz) June 8, 2024
Fire Gregg Berhalter before he gets out of that stadium
— Seton O'Connor (@HiMyNameIsSeton) June 8, 2024
At this point it’s just painfully obvious that Gregg Berhalter is not the right coach for the USMNT and equally as embarrassing that our federation ignores this fact.
— American Hooligans 🇺🇸⚽️ (@AmericanHoolis) June 8, 2024
The USMNT simply has to fire Gregg Berhalter after Copa America 2024.
— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) June 8, 2024
Already wasted an elite opportunity to have new coach in place for that tournament, but they can’t make the same mistake twice with keeping him for the 2026 World Cup.
They’re really gonna let Gregg Berhalter have a home World Cup with the most talented USMNT roster ever. Huh…
— Clay Sauertieg (@ByCSauertieg) June 8, 2024
The United States will face Brazil on Wednesday for another friendly match ahead of Copa America, which is scheduled to begin June 20.
Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.