Clint Dempsey does not believe it’s too late for US Soccer to find a new men’s head coach if the national team disappoints in the Copa America next summer.
After his contract expired following the World Cup, Gregg Berhalter was re-hired in June with the US, Canada and Mexico-hosted World Cup looming in the not-so-distant future.
And while Berhalter surely has 2026 in his sights, Dempsey thinks US Soccer can change course if things don’t go well in a tournament featuring the likes of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay next year.
‘I think Copa America is truly how you’re going to be graded for the team,’ he exclusively told Mail Sport from CBS Sports’ Destination Miami event this week. ‘And, you know, for the coaches, are we doing the right thing? Because you’re not gonna get another bigger opportunity to do well in the World Cup on home soil in 2026. So if you do well in [the Copa America] and you’re building towards something, then that’s great. But if you’re not, I think there’s still time to change things if you need to.
‘You don’t do well, then you’re always on the chopping block,’ Dempsey added. ‘That’s what comes with every job, right? If you’re not performing, the question starts to be asked. So I think there’s still time to show what you can do. But I think Copa America is going to be a huge test for this team and for this coach in terms of where we’re going.’
Clint Dempsey is eager to see how the USA fares at the Copa America next summer
Gregg Berhalter was re-hired as the team’s head coach in June after leading the team in Qatar
Dempsey gave Berhalter credit for a ‘great job’ getting out of a group comprised of England, Wales and Iran in Qatar, but admitted that he was uniquely impressed with the team’s performance under ex-interim coach (and current assistant) BJ Callaghan in the CONCACAF Nations League.
‘That was the most excited I’ve been watching the national team, in terms of how they played against Mexico and Canada, and how dominant they were, and exciting they were to watch.
‘I don’t know if there was anything different in terms of tactics, player selection, and because they always they work together,’ Dempsey added of the potential changes from Berhalter to Callaghan. ‘So what is what is the difference? Was it just the more excitement around winning a trophy with the team? They feel more free playing for one manager than the other? I don’t know. Like, I’m not inside camp and I’m not talking with players to see what was the reason why things went so well there.’
Dempsey’s comments come after the USA’s 2-1 loss at Trinidad and Tobago in the Nations League (though the Americans won 4-2 on aggregate), and a 3-1 friendly loss to Germany in October.
The USA lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago in the second leg of a Nations League matchup
Kate Abdo (left), Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Clint Dempsey and Micah Richards are seen in Miami this week during CBS’ coverage of the Champions League
Since Berhalter’s return, the team has also defeated Uzbekistan, Oman and Ghana in friendly matches, though Dempsey called the current iteration of the Black Stars the ‘worst Ghana team I’ve seen.’
‘No team in CONCACAF really did well in terms of the [Copa America] qualifying process… But if you wanna do something great, you gotta look outside of CONCACAF, right? You gotta look at, what are the other best teams in the world. Otherwise, don’t talk about trying to do something special in the World Cup.’
Like the next World Cup, the Copa America will also be hosted in the US, with Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium and Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium so far confirmed as tournament sites.
The draw for the competition will take place on December 7.