Without giving a reason, Stewart told the USSF board of directors Thursday in a private executive session that McBride would not be returning, said one person, who, like others with knowledge of the situation, spoke on condition of anonymity. have the right to comment openly.
McBride’s status was not addressed by President Cindy Parlow Cone or Secretary General JT Batson during the open session of the meeting.
McBride’s ouster was first reported by ESPN.
The move comes amid turmoil surrounding the men’s program. The USSF is awaiting the results of an independent investigation into Berhalter’s 1991 molestation of his future wife while a freshman at the University of North Carolina.
Stewart is also overseeing the national team for a four-year cycle under Berhalter, whose contract expires on December 31.
After leading the United States to the round of 16 in Qatar last month, Berhalter seemed well-suited to a new deal. But a strange dispute involving the families of Berhalter and his longtime friend, former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, complicated matters.
The Reynas were disappointed that their 20-year-old son, Gio, did not play a bigger role in the United States’ World Cup. Berhalter escalated the situation by criticizing Gio Reyna’s work ethic at a leadership summit in New York three days after the team was eliminated; The event was private, but his comments were made public. Daniel Reyna retaliated against Berhalter by telling Stewart about the 1991 abuse; at the time, he and Berhalder’s future wife, Rosalind, were soccer teammates and close friends.
It’s unclear whether the Berhalter-Reina imbroglio or offering Berhalter a new contract played a role in McBride’s firing. Reyna, Berhalter, Stewart and McBride were part of the same World Cup squad.
Earlier this month, Stewart named World Cup assistant Anthony Hudson to run a grueling MLS training camp that opens Saturday in Carson, Calif., and includes friendlies against Serbia in Los Angeles on Wednesday and Colombia in Carson on Jan. 28. Due to club commitments, regular players in Europe, including Reina, are not available.
McBride succeeds Stewart, who was general manager for 14 months before taking charge of all the youth and senior national teams for men and women. Stewart’s contract It will last until 2026, people close to the USSF told The Washington Post last summer. The federation never officially announced Stewart’s four-year contract extension.
