NEW YORK — Jürgen Klopp, Thierry Henry and Marcelo Bielsa are among those being speculated about as candidates to take over from Gregg Berhalter as coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Jesse Marsch, Hugo Pérez, Pellegrino Matarazzo and David Wagner could be considered if Berhalter is fired or quits. Among high-level European club coaches, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino also are available.
Berhalter remained as coach Tuesday, a day after the U.S. was eliminated from the Copa America with a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay to cap the Americans’ 1-2 showing in group play. He has a contract through the next World Cup, but he has lost the support of a significant portion of the fan base.
“I don’t think anybody would bat an eye. Most teams and federations, it would be a fait accompli,” former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, now Fox’s lead soccer analyst, said Tuesday. “At a time where we need to be energized and excited about the leadership going into the next two years, I think we find ourselves questioning and negative and cynical and divided, let’s be honest, relative to what can be in 2026.”
Some aren’t convinced the United States Soccer Federation will force out Berhalter, given the length of time it took to make decisions the last two times the job was open.