Alexi Lalas: 'Don't give a crap' about Gregg Berhalter excuses after USA Copa America elimination

Copa America was the last true test the United States had before hosting the World Cup in 2026. Not having to go through qualifying, the next two years will consist of friendly matches before arguably the biggest summer in US Soccer history. A huge opportunity for Gregg Berhalter and his team against top-quality opponents.

Ultimately, the USMNT fell short and crashed out of the group stage. Losses to Panama and Uruguay were enough to send them out, leading to a lot of questions surrounding Berhalter’s job status. Alexi Lalas may be the most vocal of them all, saying he does not “give a crap” about the excuses for a presume failed tournament.

“You have to ask yourself, with 2026 coming barrelling down the pike, it’s going to come real quick,” Lalas said. “We can’t afford to waste it, we can’t afford to be embarrassed, and we can’t afford to arrive in the summer of 2026 with a team that has not progressed, that has not evolved, and has not improved. I’m sure if Gregg Berhalter was here, he would say ‘You don’t see what’s happening inside.’

“I don’t give a crap what is happening inside. I don’t care about your dynamic, I don’t care how much your players love you, I don’t care how kumbaya it is. All I care about is seeing a US Men’s National Team that is better than before. And we haven’t seen that, that’s a problem going forward.”

The first Copa America was held in 1916 and been held in double-digit countries. Never has the host nation been eliminated in the group stage until Monday night when the USMNT pulled it off.

Not the step forward anyone wanted after the 2022 World Cup where a knockout stage match took place, although with a loss to the Netherlands in the Round of 16. Lalas points to the lack of progress with the US compared to previous teams, arguing promises have not been delivered.

“This team is no able to do anything better than it has done in the past,” Lalas said. “That hurts to say because that is not what was promised and, for many, not what we believed was going to happen with this team. Because if this is as good as it get, it’s not good enough. There’s plenty of excuses but they don’t matter.”

During his postgame press conference, Berhalter said a review of the tournament would take place in the future. When asked if he believes he should still be in the job moving forward, his answer was a simple “Yes.”