On July 2, the final round of Group C in the Copa América concluded with the host team, the United States, being eliminated. Following the match, American fans called for head coach Gregg Berhalter to be sacked, but the team’s starting goalkeeper, Matt Turner, voiced his support, advocating for Berhalter to remain in charge until the 2026 home World Cup.
After a 0-1 loss to Uruguay, the USMNT was knocked out of the tournament as hosts due to Panama’s victory. Angry fans chanted “Fire Gregg Berhalter!” at the stadium. During Berhalter’s tenure, the team’s record against top-15 ranked nations, excluding Mexico, stood at five draws and five losses.
However, Matt Turner, the team’s number one goalkeeper, backed his coach, stating, “I think we’re on the right path. We give our all in every game, and the coach puts in place tailored tactics. Honestly, we’ve dominated play in most matches.”
Turner emphasized that Berhalter should not shoulder all the blame for the elimination, “We can’t solely blame Gregg Berhalter because it’s the players who didn’t perform well enough. Ultimately, the players are responsible for the exit, not the coach.”
According to Turner, Berhalter should stay in his position and lead the team in the 2026 World Cup, making him the ideal candidate for the job.
