The Olympics is Marko Mitrovic's Last Chance to Impress and Take Over the USMNT

The winds of change are blowing strongly through the U.S. men's national team. Gregg Berhalter's era came to a crashing end after a disastrous campaign in the 2024 Copa América, where the U.S. embarrassingly bowed out in the group stage, racking up just three points and failing to advance to the quarterfinals. The search for a new head coach began immediately, and perhaps the solution lies within U.S. Soccer itself with Marko Mitrovic, the current U-23 coach leading the team in the Paris Olympics.

Berhalter took over the national team in 2018 after Bruce Arena’s second resignation and managed some notable achievements, like winning the CONCACAF Nations League in 2019-20 and the Gold Cup in 2021. However, his reappointment in June 2022, after his initial contract wasn’t renewed, already raised eyebrows. Five years at the helm weren't enough to guarantee stability and continued success, and the disappointing performance in the Copa América was the final blow. Thus, U.S. Soccer decided it was time to move in a new direction, especially with the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, rapidly approaching.

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Enter Marko Mitrovic. At 46, the Serbian brings a wealth of experience both as a player and a coach. His playing career saw him at 14 clubs in four countries, mainly in Serbia, where he played as a defensive midfielder. After hanging up his boots in 2010, Mitrovic quickly turned to coaching, starting as an assistant at Banat Zrenjanin in 2011-12. He then joined the Serbian Football Federation, working with the U-18, U-19, and U-20 programs, where he helped the team win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2015, defeating Brazil in the final.

This victory caught the attention of Veljko Paunovic, who brought Mitrovic to the U.S. to work with the Chicago Fire in MLS from 2016 to 2019. After his MLS stint, Mitrovic joined U.S. Soccer in 2022, starting with the U-19s before taking over the U-23s. Now, he's leading the young Americans at the Paris Olympics, marking the team’s return after a 16-year absence.

Under his leadership, the U-23 squad has already shown promising results, including wins over Colombia, Chile, and Guinea, plus a draw against a strong France team. Expectations are high for Paris, and Mitrovic firmly believes this is the moment for the new generation of American players to shine. With 17 of the 23 players coming from MLS academies or representing domestic clubs, there's a sense that the foundation is finally producing talent ready to compete at the highest level.

The Olympic performance will be crucial not just for Mitrovic’s future, but also for the path U.S. Soccer decides to take. If he continues to make history at the Olympics—after all, he has guided the U.S. to the knockout stage for the first time in 24 years (the U.S. last reached this stage in the 2000 Olympics)—he could become the frontrunner for the senior team job. His ability to turn potential into success is exactly what the American team needs right now. He has already proven his worth at the youth levels in Serbia and the U.S., and now has the chance to cement his legacy on the Olympic stage.

With the quarterfinals secured after a convincing win over Guinea, the U.S. will face Morocco in Paris. The American team has shown significant improvement since their opening loss to France, and their performances in the subsequent victories give fans hope. If they can get past Morocco and advance further, Mitrovic could solidify himself as the right man to lead the USMNT into the 2026 World Cup. Marko Mitrovic has the opportunity to show the world that he is more than just an option; he might be the answer the USMNT desperately needs.