When U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter took the reins of the program in 2018, he began with a mission statement, a challenge, and a golden opportunity all wrapped into one:
To change the way the world views American soccer.
With the project nearly three years off the ground, the picture emerging from 2021 is certainly making the soccer community see things a little differently.
Win(ing) Record
Utilizing the youngest talent pool in generations, the USMNT has amassed a 16-2-3 record in 2021. The total number of victories equals the high mark set by the team in 2013, and with one more match on the schedule - Dec. 18 vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina - this emerging group has the chance to make U.S. Soccer history.
One Rival, Two Rosters, Two Titles
Two of those victories were earned in tournament finals and both in stunning fashion.
Facing its archrivals and perennial nemesis Mexico twice on the championship stage, the young USMNT deployed two almost completely different rosters and achieved the same result.