SouthernWorldwide.com – Losing a monumental coaching position is brutal, but former USA head coach Gregg Berhalter has found a unique way to continue supporting the team: through his son.
Gregg Berhalter’s son, Sebastian Berhalter, is currently a midfielder for Team USA in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The former USA coach penned a heartfelt letter to his son, which was publicly released on Tuesday.
In his touching note to Sebastian, Gregg Berhalter wrote:
“The World Cup is one of the rare moments when the entire world stops and watches. It’s a beautiful stage, but it’s also a privilege, one that most people will never know. Enjoy every second of it. Take in the anthem. Take in the pressure. Take in the joy of competing alongside your teammates and representing something bigger than yourself.
Moments like this change your life forever.
But no matter what happens on the field, I hope you will always remember this: I am proud of you because of who you are, not because of what you accomplish. You’ve stayed humble through all of it. You’ve stayed grounded. You’ve stayed kind. And you’ve become an incredible young man.
You earned this. I love you.”
Gregg Berhalter also expressed his admiration for how his son has “never taken anything for granted.” He highlighted the unique experience they are sharing, noting that “very few fathers and sons ever will” get to experience something like this together.
Regarding Gregg Berhalter’s own coaching career, he played for Team USA himself. He held two stints as the team’s head coach: from 2018 to 2022, and again from 2023 to 2024. His initial contract concluded after the 2022 World Cup, where Team USA was eliminated in the Round of 16. The federation then appointed interim head coaches before rehiring Berhalter in June 2023.
However, Berhalter was let go again after Team USA failed to advance past the group stage in the 2024 Copa América. Mauricio Pochettino, formerly the manager for Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, and Southampton, was appointed as Team USA’s new head coach in September 2024.
Currently, Gregg Berhalter has been serving as the head coach for the Chicago Fire in MLS since 2024.
As for Sebastian Berhalter, the 25-year-old midfielder is in his fifth season with the Vancouver Whitecaps, a tenure running from 2022 to 2026. This marks his seventh season in MLS overall. He began his rookie campaign in 2020 with the Columbus Crew, who went on to win the MLS Cup Championship that year. He then played his second season with Austin FC in 2021.
This current season, Sebastian Berhalter has impressively registered six goals, provided four assists, and successfully converted one penalty kick. The Vancouver Whitecaps are currently leading the Western Conference with a record of 10 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses. The 2026 MLS season is temporarily paused due to the World Cup, with league play set to resume on July 16.
The World Cup journey for Sebastian Berhalter and Team USA is set to commence on Friday night. They will face Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. The match can be viewed starting at 9 p.m. ET on FOX and can also be streamed on the FOX One app.
