“Hung Up the Phone on Him” – USMNT Starlet Admits Being Shocked Over Gregg Berhalter’s Decision After FIFA WC Roster Snub

There are many talented and up-and-coming young soccer players around the USMNT. The recent batch of homegrown soccer players emerging from the US is richly filled with natural flair. These players also have the potential to be world-class players in the future.

One such player is Ricardo Pepi. The young American striker burst onto the scene in 2019 while he was at FC Dallas. Through the years, Pepi also started making a few appearances for the USMNT. However, the youngster was shockingly left out of the World Cup squad.

In a recent podcast, Ricardo Pepi reveals his frustration about not being a part of the 2022 World Cup squad.

Why was Ricardo Pepi not a part of the USMNT World Cup squad?

During 2021, Ricardo Pepi managed to become an important player in the USMNT setup. However, his struggles in club soccer could have lowered his name on Berhalter’s list. However, the fans still expected Berhalter to include the young striker in the World Cup squad.

But to everyone’s surprise, the striker’s name didn’t reflect on the USMNT roster sheet when the time came. Recently, Pepi featured on the Kon Veel Minder de Podcast. On the podcast, Pepi spoke about that moment when he realized he wasn’t picked for the World Cup.

“I hoped on a phone call with the national team coach and he said that I wasn’t on the roster and I just hung up the phone on him”, Pepi told the Kon Veel Minder podcast.

Pepi also revealed that he never asked or waited for an explanation. He said, “No, not really to be honest. It was just something that I was in shock because it took me like 5 minutes to be able to just get it in my mind. At first, I thought it was like a…I just couldn’t believe it. When I hung up the phone, I called up my agent immediately, then I called my dad and they thought I was playing with them”.

Read More: USMNT Coach Gregg Berhalter Thinks MLS Is Down in the “Food Chain” of Leagues

Pepi concluded the topic by saying that the world cup omission made him much more hungrier. It motivated him to work even harder towards his goal.

Why has US Soccer been there in the public eye?

Controversies have recently plagued US Soccer. Most of these controversies surround the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Giovanni Reyna was one of the youngsters in the World Cup squad. However, Berhalter reduced the youngster’s role in the squad to a ‘minor’ one.

The controversy didn’t end there. on December 11, an unknown individual contacted US Soccer and passed on ‘sensitive’ information about Berhalter to the board. A few hours later, the fans were shocked to know that the anonymous individuals were Giovanni Reyna’s parents. The case is now under investigation.

After Berhalter’s contract expired, US Soccer hired Anthony Hudson as the new interim head coach. However, the USMNT fans are furious because they demanded an upgrade in that department.

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Will Berhalter return as the head coach of the USMNT? Who do you think should take that role? Let us know in the comments below.