(ANSA) – ROME, JULY 2 – The United States has been eliminated from the Copa America, a disgrace for the stars and stripes national team because it is the first time in the history of the tournament that the host team has failed to get past the group stage. The decisive defeat against Uruguay last night in Kansas City has reignited the debate on the future of the coach, fifty-year-old Gregg Berhalter, who however has no intention of resigning and says he is convinced he can lead the national team to the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada. “We will review the progress of the entire tournament and then we will see where we went wrong,” Berhalter said in a rather tense press conference. “We know we are a talented team with great potential but we have not shown it in this tournament. Do I think I can take them to the World Cup? I say yes.” An attitude, that of the coach, that clashes with the growing voices of dissent and the requests for the federation to turn the page. A parallel with Luciano Spalletti’s situation is possible, even if Berhalter has the advantage of not having to go through the qualifiers. Former defender Alexi Lalas, who also played in Italy, said that allowing Berhalter to remain in the position risks wasting the opportunity represented by the organization of the World Cup. “The summer of 2026 is an opportunity not only for American soccer but for the country to unite – said Lalas -. You need someone to unite people and right now, Gregg Berhalter, because he has failed to a certain extent, has not given people hope that we are going in the right direction” (ANSA).
