The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun, with the U.S. men’s national team gearing up for an important farewell match against Germany this Saturday in Chicago. This event marks the culmination of years of dedication from players, coaches, and former staff members. For the Berhalter family, this occasion holds special significance.
Sebastian Berhalter, a midfielder for the USMNT, is the son of Gregg Berhalter, who currently serves as the director of football and head coach for Chicago Fire FC. Gregg Berhalter’s history with the national team is noteworthy; he managed the team during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they advanced past the group stage but were defeated by the Netherlands in the knockout round. His tenure ended in 2024 after a disappointing Copa America performance.
With the upcoming World Cup on home soil, the U.S. Soccer Federation made a strategic move, appointing Mauricio Pochettino as head coach. As Chicago Fire FC remains competitive in MLS, Gregg Berhalter is now a proud supporter of both his former national team and his son, Sebastian, as they prepare for the global stage in 2026.
“It’s a fantastic feeling, especially watching him achieve this milestone,” Gregg Berhalter shared with reporters on Friday. “His journey required immense effort, resilience, and patience. His unwavering self-belief and determination are what I admire most about him.”
Sebastian’s journey to the 2026 roster is quite remarkable. Just four years ago, he was in the stands in Qatar, cheering for his father and the USMNT. Now, he has the extraordinary opportunity to play for his country in a World Cup, a dream come true for any soccer player.
After being traded from the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2022, Sebastian’s limited playing time transformed into a breakout season in 2025. His impressive tally of six goals and four assists in 13 MLS games earned him All-Star recognition and solidified his role in Pochettino’s national team lineup. For Gregg, it represents a continuation of a family’s legacy and the pursuit of one’s ambitions.
“You know, there’s a story that is not widely known, but in Qatar, you know, they have these markets, and they sell all these little trinkets and stuff, and it was so important to him to buy this little World Cup replica trophy,” Gregg told the media.
“So he got it, and you know, my wife was like, ‘Why do you have that?’ and he says, ‘I’m going to put it in my apartment, and every single day I’m going to look at it, and that’s going to be a reminder where I want to go.’ Think about that, and now you know, four years later, he is in this position, so really, really proud of him and all his effort.
“All the training sessions. I would write it down on paper, I still have a whole stack of them written down, and it was amazing,” Gregg recalls about his time with the national team.
“But I think for Sebastian it’s really just being a guy, you know, me and my wife both had the mentality that we’re going to give him the tools and give him the guidance, but he has to eventually do it for himself, because we can’t do it for him, and we took a very hands-off approach. We never spoke to coaches. Never spoke to agents. It was really just about him and what he was going to be able to do on his own, but we supported him to the end,” he explained.
With Major League Soccer taking a break in the regular season, the Berhalter family will be actively watching and rooting for their son when the first game kicks off. As a former national team coach and former USMNT player, Berhalter is there for his son, and many of the players used to be under his tenure. He refers to them as “kids” and “babies” during the time “I had them,” and plans to just take it all in like the current squad will.
“With the rest of the guys, you know, I stay in touch with a lot of them, and I just have a lot of love for those guys. You know, we’ve been through a lot together, and I wish them all the best, but I really want them to understand that this is their moment, this is what they’ve been building for.”
