The Gregg Berhalter era of the U.S. Men’s National Team has been marked by an inability to evaluate the program in any way between “excellent” and “awful.” Berhalter initially set high expectations for the team, wanting to change how American soccer is viewed after failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, there has been pressure to perform well in the 2026 tournament on home soil.
After the U.S. team’s Concacaf Nations League victory over Mexico, writer Henry Bushnell stated that the team has outgrown regional competition and has nothing left to prove there. While it is true that the team needs to venture beyond the region for high-level games, claiming that the program has reached an unseen level against its rivals is false. The decline of Mexico from power has been a significant development over the last five years under Berhalter’s leadership.
The U.S. team’s away record in Concacaf shows room for improvement, with only three wins in 12 competitive away matches, against teams like Honduras, Cuba, and Grenada. This raises red flags about the team’s performance, especially when compared to previous teams in the program’s history. The depth of the region has also improved, with Canada and other teams becoming threats.
While the U.S. under Berhalter has won four out of six Concacaf trophies, most of these victories came in the Nations League, a competition that didn’t exist before his tenure. The dominance of the U.S. and Mexico in the region doesn’t necessarily indicate progress, especially if Mexico has declined in recent years. Mexico’s struggles in matches against the U.S. and other Concacaf opponents suggest a shift in the balance of power.
Playing in the Copa America is positive for the U.S. team, as it provides competitive fixtures beyond the region. However, this need for growth in the American program is not new, as the team has participated in the tournament as a guest team before. The recent dominance over Mexico may be more about Mexico’s decline than the U.S. team’s progress, highlighting the narrowing gap in Concacaf competition. Fans deserve a more nuanced and honest evaluation of the team’s performance, rather than narratives of unquestioned superiority in the region.
