Christian Pulisic has been given a new timeline for finding out when the USMNT will appoint a new head coach. The role has been vacant since the World Cup with previous manager Gregg Berhalter leaving the post when his contract expired in 2022.
The 49-year-old helped his country to a last-16 finish, losing out to the Netherlands after qualifying from a group containing England, Wales and Iran. Allegations against Berhalter followed the tournament though with controversy after Gio Reyner's mother, Danielle, made light of a previous incident whereby the American coach was said to have kicked his wife in 1992.
Berhalter's wife Rosalind was a room-mate and teammate of Danielle Reyna and the incident became public again after Gio Reyna was given limited minutes at the tournament in Qatar. The USMNT have yet to make a new permanent appointment for the role.
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With an international break fast approaching there is uncertainty over how the American national side will look from top to bottom in the long-term future as plans are made in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup.
"Should it be an emergency? I don't know if I'd call it an emergency," said former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas on his States of the Union podcast. "I know it's frustrating. It is to me and to others as to why we don't have people in place, especially as time passes on."
USA and Pulisic have two upcoming matches in their CONCACAF Nations League due to be played this month with lots of turnover in their squad. Not only is Berhalter no longer in charge, but there has also been change from the top down with a new general manager of the organisation needed too.
Elsehwere Pulisic himself is no longer captain after Tyler Adams was announced as the new skipper before Qatar 2022. It has all created an unsettled environment in a time that could be used for preparation. "We don't know ultimately how the structure is going to work," Lalas continued.
"Earnie Stewart has gone, Brian McBride has gone so that sporting director role that Stewart had, looking over the men's side and women's side might go away and it might just be a replacement for McBride, if that's the case lets go with that.
"I do think they're going to separate it out and have a men's side and a women's side rather than someone who oversees everything. Fredi Bobic, Carlos Bocanegra, Tim Bezbatchenko from Columbus Crew, Oliver Bierhoff, Ali Curtis he has, Chris Henderson, Dane Murphy, John Thorrington.
"There's a lot of really interesting candidates and believe me there's going to be a whole other host of candidates because I do think that this is still an attractive job.
"Keep in mind that this position, you need to have an understanding of the business that you're involved in but you're not involved with trading players or with salary caps. Really, somebody that is specific with what the USMNT is looking for and then in this day and age when you have to go in and recruit and lobby, win over many players, the ability to do that is very important.
"The connections and the vision. This person is going to decide who the coach is going to be and they are going to have a grand vision and will pick out a specific person and they are going to execute on a day-to-day basis."
As for how and when the new appointments are made, Lalas doesn't think it's worth holding his breath for. "They are going to do that [hire a general manager first] and I think it's right. It's completely asinine to have somebody ahead of the coach and not have that person be given the authority to pick that man.
"Don't be surprised if it doesn't happen until the summer and then that position is done by the summer and then as quickly as they can, the manager position is filled."
For now the young group of promising players are being looked after by Anthony Hudson. Meanwhile a statement regarding the investigation into Berhalter has since been released, saying: "Given the investigators’ conclusion that there is no legal impediment to employing him, Gregg Berhalter remains a candidate to serve as head coach of the Men’s National Team."
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