Category: USMNT

Let’s talk about Claudio Reyna and female referees

Much of the information in U.S. Soccer’s report wasn’t really a surprise. But this was out of nowhere

Though some of the details were ugly, most of what was revealed in U.S. Soccer’s investigation into l’affaire Reyna-Berhalter wasn’t all that shocking.

We already knew Claudio and Danielle Reyna had given U.S. Soccer dirt on Gregg Berhalter in an effort to see him ousted. We already knew the couple were furious with the USMNT coach and their former close friend over his treatment of their son Gio. We didn’t know the extent of the couple’s meddling or the exact words they used to threaten and harass, but the framework was already in place.

But there was one element in the 40-page report that stood out. This was truly new information.

In an email in 2018, Claudio said of a game Gio played in: “Field, referee everything!! So embarrassing all the way around.”

He followed up: “And in all honest [sic] can we get real and have male refs for a game like this. Its embarrassing guys. What are we trying to prove? A game like this deserves bett[e]r attention.”

This was truly stunning, but also instructive. How many other authority figures in the game would write something similar if they knew their email wouldn’t end up publicized in an investigation?

Though female referees continue to reach milestones on the field, Reyna represents an entrenched attitude of the old guard that won’t go away easily.

For Reyna himself, the comments are going to make it much tougher to re-enter any kind of polite soccer society. All of his previously known behavior, ugly as it was, was under the (admittedly broad) auspices of protecting his son.

This, however, was just a sexist cheap shot.

Where does Reyna go from here? Austin FC announced in January that Reyna would be moving from sporting director to a “technical advisor role,” allowing him to stay with the club in a reduced capacity.

When his contract expires with the MLS club, Reyna may find it tough to obtain high-level employment in the sport. In other words, he’ll be in the same position so many of the female officials he decries have occupied for far too long.

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USMNT to face Mexico in first annual Allstate Continental Clasico

The new annual event will see the USMNT face a team from North, Central or South America

The U.S. men’s national team will face Mexico on April 19 in the inaugural Allstate Continental Clásico, U.S. Soccer has announced.

The Continental Clásico, per U.S. Soccer, will be an annual event that will “feature the USMNT hosting a top-tier opponent from North, Central or South America.”

The match will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and will be broadcast live on TBS, Telemundo and Universo, and streamed on HBO Max and Peacock. Kickoff is set for 10:22 p.m. ET.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring the Continental Clásico to our fans in partnership with Allstate,” said U.S. Soccer Vice President of Partnership Marketing, Kelly Higgins.

“The opportunity to build a platform that brings a world-class opponent to the United States each year will be another key step toward making soccer the preeminent sport in our country, and kicking off the event with one of the biggest rivalries in international soccer will no doubt present a unique opportunity for us to engage avid, casual, and multicultural soccer fans alike.”

Because the match does not fall within a FIFA window, both teams will likely be featuring mostly domestic-based rosters.

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Alex Zendejas commits to USMNT over Mexico

The 25-year-old will give the USMNT another quality option at winger

The saga around the international future of Alex Zendejas has finally concluded — and the result is a great one for the U.S. men’s national team.

The Club América winger officially announced his commitment to the USMNT on Tuesday, turning down the chance to represent Mexico.

“I am very proud of being Mexican American,” the 25-year-old said in a post on Instagram. “Values from both cultures have made me the person I am today. I’ve had the privilege of experiencing life in two countries.

“I’m very grateful for all the opportunities the United States and Mexico have provided to me and my family. Making a decision on your international career is very difficult, and I believe in following your heart. Mine tells me that my future lies representing the USA.

“I’m excited for this next chapter and earning my place with the USMNT. Thank you to everyone for the incredible support.”

Zendejas, was born in Mexico and raised in the United States. The winger played in two friendlies with Mexico’s senior national team after representing the U.S. at the youth level.

After a FIFA investigation, Mexico was forced to forfeit both of those matches because Zendejas never filed the one-time switch he would have needed to be eligible to play for El Tri.

Zendejas then received his first senior call for the USMNT in January, and he made his debut against Serbia. Interim U.S. boss Anthony Hudson was so impressed with the winger that he declared the January window would be successful if Zendejas committed to the USMNT, regardless of what else happened.

Having just taken over Mexico, Diego Cocca said earlier this month that he was looking to bring Zendejas back into the fold. But those overtures proved unsuccessful.

Zendejas now looks likely to be called into the USMNT’s roster for CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada and El Salvador later this month.

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Berhalter: U.S. Soccer report means I have options now

The ex-USMNT boss said he wouldn’t necessarily return to his old job if it were offered

Gregg Berhalter is happy with the results of U.S. Soccer’s recently concluded independent investigation, saying he now has options as he looks to continue his coaching career.

U.S. Soccer released the results of the long-awaited investigation on Monday, which concluded that Berhalter and his wife Rosalind were forthcoming about the details of a 1992 domestic violence incident, and that there was no reason to believe any further incidents had taken place.

The investigation, conducted by Alston & Bird, did not offer such a positive conclusion for Danielle and Claudio Reyna, saying the couple had meddled in U.S. Soccer affairs for years, including their decision to disclose the 1992 incident to federation leadership as retaliation for Berhalter’s treatment of their son Gio.

Berhalter said it hasn’t been easy navigating the situation, which has seen a longtime friendship between the two couples dissolve instantly.

“I would just say it’s a sad situation,” Berhalter told The Telegraph. “We are talking about people you have known for over three decades. It’s sad and it’s in some way traumatic. But it’s something you have to deal with.”

On the subject of his coaching future, the 49-year-old was much more optimistic.

Berhalter’s contract as U.S. men’s national team coach expired at the end of 2022. Anthony Hudson is currently leading the team on an interim basis with U.S. Soccer first seeking to hire a sporting director, and then lock down a USMNT coach.

Following the release of the investigation, U.S. Soccer said that Berhalter remained a candidate for the job.

But Berhalter has admitted he is looking into all of his options, even hinting he wouldn’t necessarily accept an offer to return to his old role if it were presented.

“I guess what it [the USSF report] does is it means there are options,” Berhalter said. “That I would still be in consideration — nothing is going to exclude me from being part of that process and there are other processes that are happening also.

“After the work that has been done, that is what is right. Whether it is offered or not — or I take it or not — that’s a completely different story. To not be part of the process would be difficult. Because of the achievements of the team and how much the team has grown over the last four years.”

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U.S. Soccer investigation exonerates Berhalter, implicates Reynas

Some ugly behavior by Claudio and Danielle Reyna is documented in the independent report

U.S. Soccer has concluded an independent investigation into the dramatic affair involving Gregg Berhalter, his wife and the couple’s former close friends Claudio and Danielle Reyna.

The investigation, conducted by Alston & Bird, has concluded that Berhalter and his wife Rosalind were forthcoming about the details of a 1992 incident of domestic violence, and that the firm had no reason to believe any further incidents had taken place between the couple.

The couple eventually reconciled, married and had four children. They are still together today.

Of Berhalter, whose contract as U.S. men’s national team head coach expired at the end of 2022, U.S. Soccer said: “Given the investigators’ conclusion that there is no legal impediment to employing him, Gregg Berhalter remains a candidate to serve as head coach of the men’s national team.”

On the other hand, the report took a much dimmer view of the Reynas, saying the couple did not cooperate with the investigation and have been actively meddling into U.S. Soccer and the U.S. men’s national team for years — mostly looking to benefit their son Gio Reyna.

The Berhalter-Reyna affair exploded into public view in January, when Danielle Reyna admitted she had leaked information about the 1992 domestic violence incident to U.S. Soccer as retaliation for Berhalter not playing her son more at the World Cup, and then revealing details of the player’s poor attitude in Qatar that nearly led to him being sent home.

Amid the extremely public and messy affair, U.S. Soccer brought in Alston & Bird to conduct an independent investigation into the domestic violence incident, as well as any possible wrongdoing by the Reynas.

The investigation noted it did not consider the Reynas’ behavior to be blackmail, nor did it violate U.S. Soccer policies.

But the results were still stunning, painting an ugly picture of one of the most prominent families in American soccer history. Here are several incidents involving the Reynas documented within the report.

The Americans Abroad Five: Reyna and Dortmund miss their chance

If this was a turning point, things appear to have taken a turn for the worse.

How different could Gio Reyna and Dortmund’s season have turned out had last week gone better?

We won’t know the answer to that for a few weeks, but Dortmund’s past two matches did have the feeling of a turning point.

If so, things appear to have taken a turn for the worse.

On Tuesday, Dortmund was bounced from the Champions League by a Chelsea side coming into their match in relegation form. That was followed by a damaging draw in the derby against Schalke — a team that actually is in a relegation battle.

Reyna got a rare chance to impress against Chelsea and though views on his performance are mixed, the one person whose opinion actually matters doesn’t seem to have rated him highly.

Let’s kick off the Five with a look at a disheartening week for Reyna and his club.

Jose Mourinho on USMNT job: ‘Everyone loves me but nobody calls me’

The legendary Portuguese coach was linked with the USMNT job in January

If U.S. Soccer is interested in José Mourinho as its next U.S. men’s national team head coach, he hasn’t heard anything about it yet.

Mourinho was linked with the USMNT job earlier this year, though the origin of that report made it somewhat dubious.

And as it turns out, Mourinho himself has now said he’s heard nothing from U.S. Soccer about potentially filling the role.

The current Roma boss was asked by Fox Sports Mexico about the reports, and in typical Mourinho fashion he responded: “Everyone loves me but no one calls me.”

The 60-year-old added that the only national team job he’s ever been offered is his home country Portugal — but he was unable to accept.

“Every week someone loves me,” he continued. “Be it a club, be it a national team but the only one that has called me has been the Portuguese team, which I have not been able to accept.”

Mourinho, who took over Roma prior to last season, has a contract with the Giallorossi through the 2023-24 campaign.

The USMNT is currently being guided on an interim basis by Anthony Hudson, who is likely to be in charge through the summer as U.S. Soccer looks to hire a sporting director before a USMNT head coach.

Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022, and the federation continues to insist he is in the mix for a new contract despite the scandal that exploded into public view in January.

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The Americans Abroad Five: Yunus Musah gets a reality check

The USMNT midfielder found himself in an unfamiliar place this weekend: the bench

Yunus Musah’s name has been in the news quite a bit this season and more often than not, it’s been about his next destination.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter, among others, have been strongly linked with the Valencia midfielder, who seems destined to leave the Liga club this summer.

Lost among the hype and justified excitement over Musah’s potential is how he is actually playing with Valencia this season. And the answer appears to be: OK, not great!

It’s worth remembering, of course, that Musah is only 20 and in his first season as an every-game starter in La Liga. Interested teams aren’t just after the player he is, but the player he could one day become.

But right now, Musah and his club are going through a rough patch. The midfielder’s up-and-down campaign leads off the Five this week.

Pepi makes Eredivisie team of the month for still-struggling Groningen

If Groningen avoids relegation, Pepi will be an enormous factor

Whatever happens to Groningen this season, no one can say that Ricardo Pepi let them down.

The U.S. men’s national team striker made the Eredivisie team of the month for February, joining a team almost entirely comprised of players from the league’s three historical giants.

Pepi has been directly involved in nearly half of Groningen’s goals this season, and scored twice in their four February matches. Those games didn’t exactly go well for Groningen — they went 1W-2D-1L in February, and remain in the relegation zone — but that win did at least break an 11-game run without a victory.

In fact, by Eredivisie relegation scrap standards, Groningen’s five points this past month is actually pretty good. Collectively, the league’s bottom six teams won just three games in the month, and Groningen’s 3-0 win over Excelsior (who sit in 15th place, making them the final safe team in the table) on Saturday got them within three points of surviving this season.

Pepi wasn’t the lone CONCACAF representative on the list, as Mexico defender Edson Álvarez (Ajax) ended up on the team as well. The Eredivisie team of the month is determined by some blend of fan voting and data from Stats Perform that is probably better not known.

The USMNT striker may have tilted the vote in his favor with a little recency bias, as he saved his standout performance for that Excelsior victory.

Pepi scored a clinical goal, took five shots (more than Excelsior’s entire team managed on the day), and completed four of five attempted dribbles as Groningen got a win they probably couldn’t do without.

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Cocca gives update on Mexico’s pursuit of USMNT-eligible Zendejas

The new Mexico boss wants the winger with El Tri — but he was nowhere to be found on his first roster

Mexico head coach Diego Cocca has said he’s actively looking to recruit Alejandro Zendejas — but the U.S.-eligible winger was not on his first roster after taking over El Tri.

Cocca, who was named Tata Martino’s successor last month, named a 34-player roster for Mexico’s Nations League matches against Suriname on March 23, and against Jamaica three days later.

Zendejas, who was born in Mexico and raised in the United States, played in two friendlies with Mexico’s senior national team after representing the U.S. at the youth level.

After a FIFA investigation, Mexico was forced to forfeit both of those matches because Zendejas never filed the one-time switch he would have needed to be eligible to play for El Tri.

The Club América winger received his first senior call for the USMNT in January, and he impressed in his debut against Serbia. The 25-year-old made it clear, however, that he had yet to decide his international future.

Speaking at a press conference after his roster was revealed on Thursday, Cocca said he is hoping to convince Zendejas to join Mexico but believes the winger still needs time to make his decision.

“I’ve spoken with [Zendejas] personally two times,” Cocca said. “First, I wanted to tell him that our intention is to have him with us. And second, I wanted to make clear that today he is not eligible because he has to sign a document to be with the Mexico national team. It’s his decision and we’ll give him time to make his decision.”

Zendejas not being on Mexico’s roster can be seen as a win for the USMNT, as his presence would have permanently tied him to Mexico. Should Zendejas be called up and play for the USMNT in its Nations League matches in March, he’d be permanently tied to the U.S.

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