ไทย
English
中國人
The 2026 World Cup has been filled with compelling narratives, but one of the more understated ones may be the standout performances from a record number of MLS players competing in the tournament.
With 44 players spread across 48 teams, the league is enjoying an unprecedented level of representation. While marquee names like Inter Miami's Lionel Messi command most of the spotlight, several other meaningful contributors have gone largely unnoticed.
One such player is Sebastian Berhalter. Despite limited playing time, the U.S. men's national team and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder has made a strong impression. After netting his first World Cup goal and adding an assist in a rotated USMNT lineup that lost 3–2 to Türkiye, he appears poised for increased involvement.
Unlike many of the fringe U.S. players who were handed opportunities in the inconsequential group stage finale, Berhalter's display caught attention and could position him to play a significant role in the knockout rounds—potentially against some of the planet's elite sides.
Here, Sports Illustrated examines why manager Mauricio Pochettino may look to lean on Berhalter more heavily, beginning with the round of 32 showdown against Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Berhalter's "Pitbull-ish" Tenacity
No player was more impactful against Türkiye than Berhalter. The 25-year-old created a match-high five chances and led all players with 89 touches, many of which came in the influential zone just outside the final third. Meanwhile, his eight ball recoveries and five defensive actions ranked in the top three among all players in either category throughout the contest.
At Vancouver, Berhalter has carved out a reputation as one of the most dynamic midfielders in MLS. While his individual defending may not be his strongest suit, his pace and stamina enable him to recover his position quickly, and his tactical awareness allows him to read even the craftiest of opponents.
Against Türkiye, he operated in central midfield—his natural role with Vancouver—enabling him to dominate the middle channel and distribute to wider outlets to launch attacks. That positioning, in contrast to the wide midfield role he filled off the bench against Paraguay and Australia, allows him to exert greater influence on the game with an engine that never seems to tire.
"He can play two games in a row. He's a monster," Pochettino said of Berhalter following an eye-catching display against Senegal in a pre-World Cup friendly. "He's a monster, in the way of how professional he is. I think he deserved to be in the [World Cup] roster, and today, [I'm] happy too with his performance."
Star defender Chris Richards added after the Türkiye match: "[He's] Pit bull-ish. I'd say, he's definitely a guy who likes getting stuck in. He's a guy who we also look to for mentality. He's one of those guys, and he topped it off with a goal."
Those attributes were on full display against Türkiye and could see him earn crucial minutes against a tenacious Bosnia side.
Berhalter's Deliveries and Long Shots
Auston Trusty is not typically regarded as a goal threat, yet when Berhalter whipped a corner kick directly to his feet at the back post, Trusty was able to celebrate his first international goal. Beyond his tireless midfield engine, Berhalter is a genuine threat from set pieces.
With the Whitecaps, he handles virtually every free kick and set piece, offering quality delivery both as an out-swinging and in-swinging option. That delivery first announced itself on the international stage when he teed up Chris Richards to score at last summer's 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, and it has continued to surface in his limited World Cup minutes.
Pair his ability to deliver dangerous dead balls with his accuracy in open play—he completed 56 passes against Türkiye—and he becomes an invaluable asset. He also possesses a powerful long-range shot, having scored his goal against Türkiye from outside the area, along with four of his six MLS goals this season.
"The ball just popped out, and I knew if I just stayed calm and just made a swinging motion, that I had a chance. I practice those a lot," Berhalter told reporters of his goal after the Türkiye match. "Seeing that go in was awesome, and my first thought was to get the ball back, and let's go again."
Where Would Berhalter Play?
Having entered as a substitute for Christian Pulisic in a wide role to play 45 minutes against Paraguay, and after logging just 16 minutes against Australia, there is no obvious pathway to when or how Berhalter might earn a more prominent role.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
His skill set is arguably best suited to the center of the pitch, and any starting berth would likely require dropping Malik Tillman, with Berhalter slotting in alongside Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in midfield. That remains a viable option, though it may take an underwhelming outing from Tillman to trigger that change.
Pochettino has clearly grown into a Berhalter admirer over the past year, and it seems virtually certain that the son of former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will see action in the knockout stages. The lingering question, however, is whether he gets enough time to catch the eye of top European clubs and secure a transfer away from Vancouver, with his contract due to expire at the close of the 2026 MLS season.