Berhalter’s second stint as coach ended abruptly, only 10 months after he was brought back with high hopes and the ambitious goal “to change soccer in America forever.” During this period, the US team recorded seven wins, six losses, and one draw, resulting in an overall record of 44 wins, 17 losses, and 13 draws.

Technical Director Matt Crocker, who was responsible for rehiring Berhalter, will also lead the search for his replacement. The team’s next matches will be September friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.

“Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximise our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process,” Crocker said in a statement.

Jurgen Klopp, Thierry Henry, and Marcelo Bielsa are among the prominent names being considered as potential replacements for Berhalter, who got his hands on the Concacaf Nations League trophy in 2020, 2023 and 2024 and to another with a B team in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.

However, salary could pose a challenge. Berhalter earned $2.2 million (€2.3m) in 2022, including $900,000 (€829,00) in bonuses for leading the team to World Cup qualification and advancing to the second round. A high-profile new coach might also create pressure on US Soccer to adjust the salary for newly appointed women’s coach Emma Hayes.

With just 23 months remaining until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in the US, with the opening match scheduled for June 12, 2026, in Inglewood, California, the only significant competitive fixtures before then will likely be the Concacaf Nations League matches featuring the full player pool.

While the search for Berhalter's replacement goes on in the background, attentions now turn to the Olympics for the USMNT. Marko Mitrovic will take charge of the team in the French capital hoping to guide them to glory. "It’s been an honour working for US Soccer and I’m tremendously proud of the opportunity to lead the USA at the Olympics," said Mitrovic.

"I’ve gotten to see first-hand the high-potential players rising through our development system and I’m excited for them to represent their country proudly on such an important stage. Paris 2024 will be a special platform for our players and I can’t wait to continue the preparations."

The men's football competition will kick off on Wednesday, 24 July, one day before the women’s tournament begins on Thursday, 25 July. Nice, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne will host the group stages.

The semi-finals for the tournament will be held in Lyon and Marseille, with the men’s bronze medal match taking place in Nantes and the women’s bronze medal game in Lyon. Both finals will be hosted at the 48,000-seat Parc des Princes in Paris, with the men’s final scheduled for 9 August and the women’s final on 10 August.