In Qatar 2022, Sebastian Berhalter was in the stands. In 2026, he'll be on the pitch. That turnaround is the story of this U.S. World Cup cycle in miniature — and his father tells it better than anyone.
"In Qatar, they have these markets, and they sell all these little trinkets," Gregg Berhalter told reporters Friday. "It was so important to him to buy this little World Cup replica trophy. He said, '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.'"
Four years later, Sebastian is on Mauricio Pochettino's roster ahead of the tournament opener.
Sebastian earned this — the numbers back it up
This isn't a legacy call or a coaching favor. Sebastian was traded from Vancouver Whitecaps in 2022, spent years grinding through limited minutes, then broke through in 2025 with six goals and four assists across 13 MLS games — form that earned him All-Star recognition and a more permanent seat in the national team setup under Pochettino.
His father, now Chicago Fire's director of football and head coach with his side sitting third in MLS, took a deliberately hands-off approach throughout. "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."
For a man who managed the USMNT through the 2022 cycle — where the team finished second in their group behind England before falling 3-1 to the Netherlands in the round of 16 — watching his son wear the same crest carries a specific weight. Gregg was let go in 2024 after a poor Copa America showing, with U.S. Soccer pivoting to Pochettino ahead of a home World Cup. He's made peace with that chapter.
"This is their moment"
The elder Berhalter still keeps in close contact with many players from his tenure — he called them "kids" and "babies" during his time with the team — but he's clear-eyed about his role now. "I really want them to understand that this is their moment, this is what they've been building for."
With MLS on a regular season break, the Berhalter family will be watching from the sidelines as Sebastian steps into the tournament his father once chased. The replica trophy in the apartment did its job.
