ST. LOUIS, Mo. — One thing has been ever-present in nearly every U.S. Men's National Team match over the last eight years: the name “Berhalter”.
From 2019 to 2024, Gregg Berhalter coached the United States. He now coaches the Chicago Fire, while his son Sebastian has become a first-team regular under Mauricio Pochettino.
Sebastian Berhalter has continued his tremendous form since the World Cup. After contributing a goal and an assist off the bench on Saturday against Peru, the 25-year-old now at Middlesbrough repeated the trick, becoming the first USMNT player to record a goal and assist in consecutive senior team matches since Landon Donovan in 2013.
“To have a player like him is priceless,” Pochettino said postgame. “It’s difficult to put in value, not only what he’s doing... It’s in the way that he shows the other players how to be professional, how he cares for himself, how he helps the team.”
Early in his career, Berhalter was rarely separated from his last name. It took him several seasons – until late 2024, in fact – to solidify himself as a regular starter in MLS, and it wasn't until 2025 that he emerged as one of the top central midfielders in the league.
Strong performances in the spring of 2025 – just a few months after his father's departure from the national team – springboarded him into the USMNT picture as Pochettino began to develop and expand his new player pool.
“I think the moment that we met for the first time, we saw that was a big shock and impact for us, because he is the son of the former coach here,” Pochettino said. “I know how tough it was for him, all this period. It’s always difficult when you are a coach, and I know how difficult it was also for his dad.”
“For us, when we saw him playing in Vancouver and then when we met, I think it was more than we expected.”
Berhalter took his opportunities in the Gold Cup last summer, and never looked back. The London-born central midfielder appeared in all five U.S. matches at this summer's home World Cup, scoring against Turkey in the group stage during his only start.
Now, 19 caps, 4 goals, and 4 assists into his national team career, the younger Berhalter is repaying the faith shown in him by those who made it possible, both from his current coaches and those closer to home.
“My dad’s believed in me since day one,” Berhalter said. “But he’s also real with me. And I think I’m very fortunate to have someone like that, that he’ll keep me pushing. He’s going to keep me grinding.”
“Even years ago, it was always about being real because I think players can be delusional sometimes. And I needed some wake-up calls, for sure. And him and my mom have just been amazing. My whole family, just the support system.”
“I came in day one and just thought, ‘Look, I’m just going to do the best I can do,’ going into that Gold Cup camp. And (Pochettino) pulled me aside, and he was asking me, ‘What were some of your favorite players?’ And I was just naming guys, some of the best in the world. And he said, ‘Why can’t you be like that?’”
“And then fast forward a year, I spoke with him before the World Cup, and he was saying, ‘Look how much closer you are already. Keep going, keep being yourself.’ And that’s all I can ask for.”
