Latest news with #GreggBerhalter
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lamar Hunt US Open Cup: Where to watch, quarterfinal bracket and schedule
The Chicago Fire look to become the first MLS team to win five U.S. Open Cup trophies. The 110th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup — which continues play Tuesday, July 8 — is down to its elite eight, with each remaining team representing Major League Soccer as all lower-division clubs have been eliminated. One of the quarterfinal teams is the Chicago Fire. Helmed by former U.S. men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter, the Fire are attempting to become the first MLS club to win five Open Cup trophies. After enjoying success in the U.S. Open Cup early in their existence (winning in their inaugural season of 1998, and then again in 2000 and 2003), the Fire last won the tournament 19 years ago, which represents the last trophy won by the team. A fifth U.S. Open Cup win for Chicago would tie a U.S. Open Cup record, joining Maccabee Los Angeles (1973, 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1981) and Bethlehem Steel (1915-16, 1918-19, 1926) as five-time winners. The Fire have three more wins to get there. Besides the Fire, D.C. United is the only remaining team that has previously won the U.S. Open Cup, and a return to Open Cup glory would be a welcome change of pace from what has been a dismal 2025 MLS campaign. Austin FC, Minnesota United, Nashville SC, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union and San Jose Earthquakes are all chasing their first U.S. Open Cup trophy. Here's how to watch the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal games: How to watch US Open Cup quarterfinal games All games will stream on Paramount+. CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network to air select games. Tuesday, July 8 Wednesday, July 9 What is the US Open Cup? American soccer history is a disjointed and often-confusing enterprise, barren of the convenience of the century-long continuity of leagues such as Major League Baseball or the National Football League. However, one thread that ties the game of soccer together in this country through the years has been the U.S. Open Cup (officially known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup). The first U.S. Open Cup (originally called the National Challenge Cup) kicked off in 1913, seven years before the formation of the NFL and 12 years after the opening season of baseball's American League. The U.S. Open Cup — this country's oldest annual tournament for team sports — has been played every year since 1913 with the exception of 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was modeled after England's FA Cup, so the single-elimination competition is open to U.S.-based amateur and professional clubs. The winner of the U.S. Open Cup — a team that technically is the national champion of American men's club soccer — earns a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup. MLS has dominated the competition Since 1996, MLS teams have won all but one U.S. Open Cup; the Rochester Rhinos beat the Colorado Rapids in the 1999 final. While MLS has competed in the U.S. Open Cup since the league's inception, the old North American Soccer League avoided it. So, you won't see the likes of multiple-time NASL Soccer Bowl winners such as the New York Cosmos or Chicago Sting gracing the historical records of the U.S. Open Cup. USL sides Indy Eleven (2024 semifinalist), Sacramento Republic FC (2022 finalist) and FC Cincinnati (2017 semifinalist; FC Cincinnati began MLS play in 2019) have made deep tournament runs in recent years as lower division entries. Who has the most US Open Cup titles? If the National Association Football League had stood the test of time like MLB or the NFL, perhaps American sports fans would speak of Bethlehem Steel in the same reverence as the New York Yankees or Green Bay Packers. Bethlehem Steel won five U.S. Open Cups in the tournament's first 13 years. Four years after its last U.S. Open Cup championship in 1926, Bethlehem Steel folded. Meanwhile, the National Association Football League folded in 1921 and was essentially replaced by the American Soccer League, which shut down during the Great Depression in 1933. Bethlehem Steel played in both leagues. Even though its last title came in the 1920s, Bethlehem Steel remains tied for the most U.S. Open Cup championships (five) with Maccabi Los Angeles, a semi-pro soccer club that operated from 1971-1982. MLS teams are catching up to the early repeat champions, with the Chicago Fire, Sporting Kansas City and Seattle Sounders each with four championships. US Open Cup winners: Tournament champions since 1996 Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
USMNT fail again – what now? Plus: Arsenal eye Gyokeres, and Jimenez's touching Jota tribute
The Athletic FC ⚽ is The Athletic's daily football (or soccer, if you prefer) newsletter. Sign up to receive it directly to your inbox. Hello! The Gold Cup got away from him. It's a strong World Cup or bust for Mauricio Pochettino now. On the way: The next time the United States men's national team step out for a competitive match, we'll be talking about the 2026 World Cup. Depending on your point of view, that's either a long old wait with a lot of thumb-twiddling, or it's a run-in that will disappear in a flash. After losing against Mexico in the Concacaf Gold Cup final last night, it's hard to know if an extended period without jeopardy is what the doctor ordered for Mauricio Pochettino. There's something to be said for a period away from all-or-nothing fixtures, but somehow, he has to get the U.S. into cut-throat mode. It's literally years since they looked fully competition-ready. Advertisement Their 2024 Copa America campaign went so badly it cost Gregg Berhalter his job as head coach and brought Pochettino to the fore. Their participation in March's Nations League finals was a washout, and for all that they ran Mexico close in Houston yesterday, what to make of their run to the trophy match, really? The group stage was a cinch. They needed penalties to see off Costa Rica in the quarter-finals and then in the semis, they faced Guatemala, ranked outside FIFA's top 100. The final itself was an encapsulation of the USMNT under Pochettino: a flicker of promise burning out and rendering them second best. Mexico had their number. And so, the most expensive and high-profile coach U.S. Soccer has ever hired goes back to the drawing board. At the World Cup next summer, he should have a stronger squad and more players to work with, Christian Pulisic for one. Every friendly from here on is a building block, but we're still no closer to saying this will be a successful appointment. In mitigation, Pochettino was down on numbers at the Gold Cup, and Pulisic's absence created an unhelpful narrative going into the tournament. It should also be said that the penalty decision that went against the U.S. at 1-1 last night — an unpunished handball from Mexico's Jorge Sanchez — was unreal. Judge for yourselves. 'I'm not going to cry,' Pochettino said afterwards. 'If that happened in the opposite (box), for sure it's a penalty.' He implied that a predominantly Mexican crowd swayed the officials, but there in itself is another issue: games like these are still battling to draw majority American audiences. Their semi-final against Guatemala was similar. Nonetheless, the USMNT had an early lead to protect after Chris Richards' header bounced down off the crossbar and over the goal line in the fourth minute. What happened next highlighted Pochettino's biggest problem — his squad aren't resilient enough and their game management requires work. Mexico cleared their heads and patiently turned the screw. Advertisement It always feels like enough pressure applied in the right areas will cause the U.S. to crack. Raul Jimenez equalised, because of course he did. He's a clutch player for Mexico who delivers again and again. Edson Alvarez's winner on 77 minutes was allowed to stand on review, despite Cesar Montes appearing to block Richards from an offside position. Truly, Pochettino could do with something going his way. The contentious decisions aside, he wasn't dispirited at full time. 'This is the way we want to build our journey into the World Cup,' he said. 'I have no doubt that we're going to be really, really competitive and very difficult for the opponent.' The public need to hear that confidence. I'm just not sure they'll share it. No rest for the wicked in the transfer market over the weekend. Let's get to it: Last September, TAFC covered the story of the unnamed Premier League footballer who was under investigation by police over allegations of sexual assault stretching back to 2021. We knew who he was, but he remained anonymous in published articles because privacy law in the UK prevents a criminal suspect from being named until they are charged with an offence. The length of time taken to investigate — we're talking three years since he was first arrested — reflects how allegations of rape are particularly difficult to deal with. On Friday, the footballer at the centre of the case was identified as Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian midfielder who spent five seasons with Arsenal until his contract expired last week. The 32-year-old has been formally charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault against three separate women in 2021 and 2022. He denies the allegations and is due to make a first court appearance in London on August 5. Advertisement Arsenal, you'll remember, tried to extend Partey's contract but failed to reach an agreement with him. They also continued to field him throughout the long period when police were questioning him. The Athletic's Sarah Shephard published a thought-provoking column over the weekend, questioning the club's conduct in standing by Partey despite the serious nature of the claims against him. Arsenal say they are unable to comment while legal proceedings are live, but the concerns Sarah raises will have to be addressed. Bayern Munich are out of the Club World Cup, but they're flying home with a nice wedge of cash. They're also flying home with a seriously injured Jamal Musiala, proving that nothing comes for free. Musiala was hurt in Saturday's quarter-final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain during an incident that turned some unfair fire on Gianluigi Donnarumma. The PSG goalkeeper's challenge on Musiala — a dive at the midfielder's feet (above) — inflicted a fractured fibula, but in real time, he was entitled to go for the ball and only did what the average goalkeeper would have done. The goalkeeping union tends to be tight, so it was a surprise to hear Bayern's Manuel Neuer digging out Donnarumma, saying: 'You don't have to go in like that. He takes the risk of injuring his opponent.' I guess the frustration is understandable. Musiala is one of Bayern's biggest talents and he is unlikely to be back until the end of the year. As a whole, PSG's 2-0 win had a feisty flavour, ending with them reduced to nine players. Real Madrid's 3-2 victory against Borussia Dortmund was equally lively, the show stolen by another goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois (despite Kylian Mbappe's best efforts). This stoppage-time strike from Marcel Sabitzer, below, was in, right until Courtois stretched his arm that improbable inch further. If you're ever trying to define a world-class save, that's it. UEFA Women's European Championship: Group B: Spain vs Belgium, 12pm/5pm; Portugal vs Italy, 3pm/8pm — both Fox Sports/ITV. Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were laid to rest on Saturday in their hometown of Gondomar in Portugal. The reaction to their deaths has been so telling. Two of Jota's Portugal team-mates, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves, made it to the funeral despite playing at the Club World Cup in America the previous night. Just to show how many people Jota affected, Raul Jimenez, a former colleague of the 28-year-old's at Wolverhampton Wanderers, marked his Gold Cup goal last night by holding up a shirt with Jota's name and number on it, and pretending to play a games console — a nod to Jota's supreme esports ability. A touching tribute on the other side of the world.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Chris Richards says US team ready to fight in Gold Cup final against Mexico
HOUSTON: Chris Richards has noticed a turnaround in the U.S. team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a change from both the end of coach Gregg Berhalter's tenure and the start of Mauricio Pochettino's. "We kind of like to fight, so I think that's something that maybe has been missing from the national team over the last few camps, few months, few years," the defender said ahead of Sunday's final against Mexico. "We didn't come into camp saying that we want to fight, but I think if teams want to bring it to us, then they have something else coming for them. Of course, we want to win games, but sometimes in CONCACAF it's not pretty, so you have to do the dirty things." Mexico is the defending champion and has nine titles to seven for the U.S. and one for Canada. A pro-Mexico crowd is expected at NRG Stadium. Richards said the Americans have bonded during their month together, causing players to defend each other when opponents challenge them. "We love each other as if we're a big family, and if you have siblings you know that if anybody messes with your sibling, well, I guess for lack of a better word, you kind of have to kill them," he said Saturday. "You're allowed to do whatever to your siblings, but nobody from the outside can." Missing many of its regular starters because of injuries, vacation and the Club World Cup, the No. 16 U.S managed five wins over relatively weak opponents and reached its first Gold Cup final since 2021. The meeting with 17th-ranked Mexico will be the last competitive match for both nations before they co-host next year's World Cup along with Canada.
Washington Post
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Chris Richards says US team ready to fight in Gold Cup final against Mexico
HOUSTON — Chris Richards has noticed a turnaround in the U.S. team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a change from both the end of coach Gregg Berhalter's tenure and the start of Mauricio Pochettino's. 'We kind of like to fight, so I think that's something that maybe has been missing from the national team over the last few camps, few months, few years,' the defender said ahead of Sunday's final against Mexico. 'We didn't come into camp saying that we want to fight, but I think if teams want to bring it to us, then they have something else coming for them. Of course, we want to win games, but sometimes in CONCACAF it's not pretty, so you have to do the dirty things.'
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mauricio Pochettino is bringing fight and focus back to the USMNT
There is something cosmically funny about all of this. Late last summer, the United States men's national team went out and hired the most qualified manager it could find. The one with the most impressive coaching resume far of anyone US Soccer had ever employed on the men's side. The most expensive, certainly. By a multiple. The man brought in to arrest the tailspin the USMNT had slowly slipped into after the 2022 World Cup. To finally unlock that elusive next level. To help a golden generation, or at least a shiny one, come good at last. To salvage something, anything, from a World Cup played mostly on home soil a year from now. Not to squander it all. Related: Diego Luna double fires US past Guatemala and into Gold Cup final Advertisement And what should Mauricio Pochettino add to the US national team's brew of aptitudes and attitudes but pluck and grit? The very same underdog mentality, the ferocity and fitness, that had once taken the US from global laughingstocks to merely unembarrassing and then to internationally competitiveness. That sort of mindset had a ceiling, it was decided a decade and a half or so ago. And the Yanks kept on bumping their heads into it. So they hired Jürgen Klinsmann to sprinkle his fairy dust over the team, except he didn't understand how to execute his own lofty plans and dismantled the team's mentality-monster culture in the process. And then Gregg Berhalter brought it back for a bit, only to misplace it again. That was still more or less the shape the US was in three weeks ago. A mirthless two-loss debacle at the Concacaf Nations League in March. Two more defeats to Turkey and Switzerland, both playing at three-quarters speed, in early June. The Americans were underdogs again. Long shots. A soccer community mumbled to itself about those 10 regulars lost to rest and injuries and the Club World Cup. Since then, something elemental has been reclaimed. The USMNT are competitive again, proud again. By going back to basics. Advertisement They ground out a 2-1 semi-final result against Guatemala in St Louis on Wednesday, courtesy of Diego Luna's 15-minute brace, to reach Sunday's Gold Cup final with Mexico in Houston on Sunday – a record 13th appearance in the regional title game. In the broad assessment of Pochettino's time in charge of the US – likely following the World Cup when he'll probably go chase after some other project, as is the wont of the most sought-after managers – Sunday's penalty shoot-out win over Costa Rica in the quarterfinal will likely loom large. The Americans prevailed in a feisty game, matching the intensity of an opponent intent on making a slugfest out of the bout, showing some personality at long last. On Tuesday, Pochettino elaborated on just how much he appreciated the urgency with which his team had rallied around Malik Tillman that day. The American attacking linchpin was taunted by some of his Tico opponents after missing a penalty, whereupon a big scuffle broke out involving the entire US team. 'It's the whole group,' Pochettino said, clearly delighted that the press conference had landed on the merits of a good scuffle. 'It's the keeper [Matt Freese] also, because he ran 100 meters to be in the fight. That was amazing. That means something. For me, I'm Argentino – we love to fight – that means a lot. 'That means that we are connected, that we care about my teammates,' Pochettino continued. 'That needs to be natural between them. We can select 26 players, but to be a team is a different thing.' Advertisement He liked, the Argentine said, that after four weeks together, team meals were lively. That the three tables the USMNT eats at have an energy sparking between them that makes them feel like one. Or something. 'That is a spontaneous situation that you cannot force, you cannot push,' said Pochettino. The long and short of it is the Americans are a team again. Certainly, there is sophistication at work in their run to the Gold Cup final as well. This incarnation of the USMNT is increasingly well-drilled in its defensive organization and attacking patterns. A team that was inexperienced and unfamiliar a month ago moves as a unit, shifts shapes in transition, zings the ball around cleanly. Within a clear structure, there is room for Tillman and Luna to express themselves, to roam and to assert their influence both creatively and as the team's high pressers. The Americans have scored some wonderfully well worked goals in this tournament. The victory over Guatemala made for a strange sort of game. The US were utterly dominant early and ran out to a quick 2-0 lead, only to spend the rest of the game defending it increasingly frantically against the world's 106th-ranked team, getting outshot 20-12. Advertisement Before a heavily pro-Guatemalan crowd at Energizer Park in St Louis, one of the spiritual homes of the American game, Guatemala played in their first Gold Cup semi-final in 29 years. They turned up with a roster that was domestically based but for six players active in the US and Canada and one each in Romania and Moldova. These were not pedigreed players, yet their countrymen in the stands roared for a second successive upset, after Los Chapines dispatched Canada on penalties in the last round. 'Today, I need to tell you, it was like to play in Guatemala, in Tegucigalpa,' said Pochettino. 'And that was good for our players, because it was an atmosphere we didn't expect.' In the fourth minute, Luca de la Torre shot from outside the box, following a long, crisp American buildup. Luna snuck ahead of his marker, José Rosales, snagged the rebound and then tucked it past Kenderson Navarro. Ten minutes later, Luna ran at the box, beat his man with a stepover and located a crack of space and time to rip his shot past Navarro at the near post. From that point, Guatemala would be the aggressors, forcing several strong saves by Freese and seeing a goal disallowed as it put ever more attackers on the field. In the 80th minute, 18-year-old Olger Escobar found some room in the American area and finally beat Freese to narrow the score, provoking a furious final assault. Few things in soccer are quite as dangerous as an unchained team, playing for the equalizer with absolutely nothing to lose. Still the US held on, avoiding the penalty lottery that nearly undid them in the previous round, collecting just enough clearances and disrupted Guatemalan attacks to see out the clock. Perhaps there was something slightly undignified in clinging on against a team that, on paper, ought not be a threat. The other interpretation is that it was a sign of growth. Advertisement 'It's the grit, it's the determination that we've been lacking, to be honest,' Luna told Fox. 'It's fighting to the end, every ball, every moment.' Presently, it's no use arguing with the USMNT's pint-sized scrapper. For he has come to embody its new ethos.
