Alexi Lalas: Gregg Berhalter 'going to lose his job' pending Uruguay result

While the Copa America is a CONMEBOL event, Thursday’s United States-Panama was a vintage CONCACAF game. Two red cards, multiple hard fouls, and a lot of officiating decisions played out, with the USMNT ultimately losing 2-1. A tough result for head coach Gregg Berhalter, who is now on the verge of seeing his team crash out of the group stages.

Now, a win against Uruguay is likely required for the United States to go through. Anything less, they will be going home with quite a disappointing performance in the Copa America. If you ask FOX analyst Alexi Lalas, going out earlier than expected would be enough for Berhalter to lose his job.

“This one hurts, obviously,” Lalas said on Copa Tonight following the Panama loss. “But there’s a strange part of me that says ‘You know what? All chips in.’ We’ve talked so much about this tournament being an assessment of this team, an assessment of head coach Gregg Berhalter, relative to getting out of the group and playing against the likes of Colombia and Brazil. Well, you know what? That challenge and that assessment and that ultimate assessment will all happen in the third game against Uruguay.

“They better be up for it. If they do not go through, Gregg Berhalter is going to lose his job, and rightfully and fairly so. But this is a situation this team, including Gregg Berhalter, has created for themselves. Now, find a way to get out of it.”

Berhalter was likely hoping Monday’s game was a formality, already being through to the knockouts after beating Panama. But when Timothy Weah was sent off in the 18th minute, the complexion of the game even changed. Even though the United States scored the first goal, Panama kept their consistent pressure and scored a winner in the 83rd minute.

Lalas feels if anything other than a win and making the Copa America quarterfinals, Berhalter will be gone.

This is a situation the United States Soccer Federation has gone through recently, discussing the idea of moving on from Berhalter at the end of the 2022 World Cup. However, he was rehired in June 2023, given the chance to coach through an important cycle — one where the United States will host the World Cup.

Losing to Uruguay could result in somebody different being on the sidelines in the summer of 2026, representing the USMNT as their head coach. A huge match ahead in Kansas City against one of CONCACAF’s top nations.