Colombia Archives - US Sports News

Fans Call for Gregg Berhalter’s Job After Colombia Routs United States in Friendly

The United States men's national soccer team played an international friendly against Colombia on Saturday as both teams prepare for Copa America and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the United States starting 11 players from Europe's five most prominent leagues for the first time, not much went well for the Americans. Colombia took a 2–0 lead in the game's first 19 minutes and ran away with a 5–1 win, the biggest margin in a loss of coach Gregg Berhalter's tenure on the United States sidelines.

No team had scored five goals against the United States since Mexico in the 2009 Gold Cup final. It was the United States' first time losing by four or more goals since a 4–0 loss to Costa Rica in 2016 that led to the firing of then-coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Berhalter, who was hired as the USMNT head coach in 2018, was appointed last summer to lead the Americans to the 2026 World Cup. U.S. soccer fans weren't happy with Saturday's result, however, and their calls for a coaching change grew louder.

Imaging bringing back Gregg Berhalter
— Mike Ryan (Ruiz) 🙌🏽 (@MichaelRyanRuiz) June 8, 2024

Fire Gregg Berhalter before he gets out of that stadium
— Seton O'Connor (@HiMyNameIsSeton) June 8, 2024

At this point it’s just painfully obvious that Gregg Berhalter is not the right coach for the USMNT and equally as embarrassing that our federation ignores this fact.
— American Hooligans 🇺🇸⚽️ (@AmericanHoolis) June 8, 2024

The USMNT simply has to fire Gregg Berhalter after Copa America 2024.
Already wasted an elite opportunity to have new coach in place for that tournament, but they can’t make the same mistake twice with keeping him for the 2026 World Cup.
— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) June 8, 2024

They’re really gonna let Gregg Berhalter have a home World Cup with the most talented USMNT roster ever. Huh…
— Clay Sauertieg (@ByCSauertieg) June 8, 2024

The United States will face Brazil on Wednesday for another friendly match ahead of Copa America, which is scheduled to begin June 20.

8 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

U.S. Men’s National Team Starts 11 Players From Top European Leagues for First Time

For decades, American soccer fans have been dreaming of a United States men's soccer lineup littered with players who ply their trade in the world's greatest leagues.

That dream is now reality.

On Saturday afternoon, the United States started 11 players from Europe's five most prominent leagues—the Premier League in England, Ligue 1 in France, Bundesliga in Germany, Serie A in Italy and La Liga in Spain—for the first time against Colombia.

The United States XI Saturday included goalie Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest), defender Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), defender Antonee Robinson (Fulham), midfielder Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Borussia Dortmund), midfielder Weston McKennie (Juventus), midfielder Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), defender Tim Ream (Fulham), midfielder Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), striker Folarin Balogun (Monaco), midfielder Tim Weah (Juventus) and defender Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach).

All 11 starters for the U.S. in their friendly against Colombia play in Europe's top five leagues, a first in #USMNT history 👀 pic.twitter.com/HHpKzdP60K
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 8, 2024

The landmark game is the Americans' penultimate clash before opening Copa America against Bolivia on June 23.