The United States men’s national team is looking for a new soccer coach with Gregg Berhalter’s firing on Wednesday.
With the 2026 World Cup taking place in part on American soil, the U.S. Soccer Federation will have to find the best candidate possible to replace Berhalter and regain national confidence in the program ahead of this pivotal World Cup tournament.
With former USMNT superstar Clint Dempsey calling this the “Golden Generation” for the program, you can bet this next hire will be critical in maximizing the talent on the roster and giving the United States a real chance at making waves in the 2026 World Cup.
Let’s break down five possible candidates to replace Berhalter and why they’d make sense for USMNT.
Jürgen Klopp
The former Liverpool manager is currently a free agent, and you can guess he’ll be high on the United States’ list to lead the men’s national team. While he’s said he won’t manage another team in England besides Liverpool after taking a break from the sport earlier this year, the USMNT might present Klopp with the perfect opportunity to continue his career without the pressure of jumping to another team in the Premier League.
Jesse Marsch
After two seasons with Leeds United, Marsch has been a sensational hire for Canada, leading that team to the 2024 Copa América semifinals. While he literally just got the Canada job in May, it wouldn’t all be surprising to see the United States make a run for Marsch with a lucrative contract after the very quick and substantial success Marsch has found on the pitch.
Steve Cherundolo
The former USMNT player-turned-coach is currently with the Los Angeles FC in the MLS, posting up a 64-21-30 record in 115 games since taking the reins in 2022. He’s got strong familiarity with the program and would probably be considered a safe hire by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Peter Vermes
The longtime Sporting Kansas City coach played for the USMNT from 1988-97 and has led his MLS squad to 245 wins and the MLS Cup in 2013. He also won the U.S. Open Cup as a coach in 2012, 2015 and 2017. He could represent an established presence on the sideline with experience in the program and in navigating his team through the rigors of tournament play.
Landon Donovan
We’re including Donovan as a wild card, primarily since he’s only coached a now-defunct USL team and is currently working as a broadcaster for Fox Sports. However, he’s a legitimate USMNT hero from his time with the program and would be a splashy hire that could reinvigorate interest in the team based on the name alone. Just from a curiosity standpoint, we’d be fascinated to see if Donovan could be the next former high-profile player to make his venture into coaching for a major program. It might just be flashy enough to work.
