USMNT asst. Hudson to coach January friendlies
Anthony Hudson will coach the United States men’s soccer team, rather than Gregg Berhalter, ahead of the first two matches of the cycle leading to the 2026 World Cup.
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Tuesday that it was investigating Berhalter for a 1991 domestic violence incident involving the woman who became his wife.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
Hudson will lead the team for friendlies against Serbia on Jan. 25 in Los Angeles and against Colombia three days later in Carson, California, USSF sporting director Earnie Stewart said on Wednesday.
Hudson, 41, was hired as coach of the U.S. under-20 team in January 2020 and a year later became an assistant coach to Berhalter, whose contract with the USMNT expired on Dec. 31.
The USSF said its assessment of the 2018-22 cycle and the investigation of Berhalter are ongoing and said on Tuesday that it learned of his 1991 domestic violence incident on Dec. 11 and hired the law firm Alston & Bird to investigate.
In a press conference later on Wednesday, Stewart allowed for the possibility that at the conclusions of the investigation into the 1991 incident and U.S. Soccer’s review of the program that Berhalter could be re-hired.
Berhalter said on Tuesday that a person had contacted the USSF “saying that they had information about me that would ‘take me down.'” He also said in his statement that his 1991 behavior was “shameful” and that he was “looking forward to continuing my conversations with U.S. Soccer about the future.”
“Through this process, U.S. Soccer has learned about potential inappropriate behavior towards multiple members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization,” said the USSF.
On Wednesday, Danielle Reyna issued a statement saying she had contacted USSF during the World Cup to inform the organization of Berhalter’s behavior in 1991.
Gio Reyna is the son of Danielle and former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, who played with Berhalter for the Americans during their national team careers, and saw his playing time limited at the World Cup in Qatar.
When the U.S. returns for its January camp, Hudson’s staff will include assistant coach B.J. Callaghan and current U20 coach Mikey Varas. Luchi Gonzalez, the other American assistant coach, agreed last summer to become coach of MLS side San Jose Earthquakes after the World Cup.
Hudson also coached at fifth-tier Newport in England in 2011, Bahrain’s national team in 2013 and 2014, New Zealand’s national team 2014-17, and Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids 2017-19.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
