Sources: Berhalter set to return as USMNT coach

Gregg Berhalter is set to return as manager of the United States men’s national team, sources have told ESPN.

First reported by the Athletic, the deal is close to being finalized and would run through the 2026 World Cup, sources told ESPN. An official announcement by U.S. Soccer on Berhalter, who led the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup, is expected Friday.

Berhalter, 49, was hired in December 2018 after the failure to qualify for that year’s tournament and coached the Americans to the Round of 16 of last year’s World Cup, where they were eliminated with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands. The U.S. gets an automatic berth in the 2026 World Cup as co-host with Mexico and Canada.

Berhalter led the Americans to 37 wins, 11 losses and 12 draws and was discussing a new contract with USSF sporting director Earnie Stewart when the family of Giovanni Reyna, upset with his lack of playing time in Qatar, contacted the USSF about an allegation involving Berhalter in a 1992 encounter with the woman who became his wife.

Gio Reyna’s parents — former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna and midfielder Danielle Egan — were angered that Berhalter discussed his issues with Gio at a management conference after the World Cup that, while not identifying Gio, clearly were about the 20-year-old midfielder.

The USSF retained the Alston and Bird legal team to investigate the 1992 encounter, and the law firm said in a report released March 13 that while Berhalter’s conduct “likely constituted the misdemeanor crime of assault on a female,” he did not improperly withhold information when he was hired.

“There is no basis to conclude that employing Mr. Berhalter would create legal risks for an organization,” the report said.

Stewart announced Jan. 26 that he was quitting and was replaced in late April by Southampton director of football operations Matt Crocker, who was tasked with leading the search for a new coach. Crocker said he planned to make a decision by late summer.

Earlier Thursday, Jesse Marsch’s agent, Ron Waxman, tweeted his client would not become the American coach. Marsch had been the presumed favorite to land the job.

Anthony Hudson, one of Berhalter’s assistants, became interim coach on Jan. 4 and coached the Americans to two wins, one loss and two draws, then quit on May 30 to become coach of the Qatari club Al Markhiya.

B.J. Callaghan, another assistant, replaced Hudson and led the Americans for the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Mexico on Thursday night, a resounding 3-0 win that puts the Americans through to the finals against Canada.

ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle and Jeremy Schaap contributed to this story. Information from The Associated Press was also used.