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When Sebastian Berhalter takes the field at the World Cup with the U.S. men's national team on Friday, his father Gregg Berhalter will be among the crowd of thousands at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Four years ago, Gregg guided the USMNT to the World Cup on the other side of the globe in Qatar. At that time, his son Sebastian had just signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was finding it difficult to earn playing time as a young player on a talented squad.
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As Gregg steered the Stars and Stripes to a round of 16 defeat against the Netherlands and became embroiled in controversy surrounding young star Gio Reyna, his tenure with the national team seemed to be drawing to a close.
Following a dismissal and reinstatement in 2023, only to be succeeded by a humiliating group stage elimination at the U.S.-hosted 2024 Copa América, the curtain finally fell on his time in the dugout.
Throughout it all, Sebastian's ascent continued in Canada—and once Gregg departed the national team role, with Mauricio Pochettino stepping in as replacement, it paved the way for Sebastian's inclusion on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
Two weeks ago, Sebastian, who already boasts six goals and seven assists in the 2026 MLS season, discovered he would represent the United States at this summer's marquee tournament after steering Vancouver to the 2025 MLS Cup final. Gregg, now in charge of the Chicago Fire, will get to be a father rather than a coach when his son makes his World Cup bow.
"The World Cup is one of those rare occasions when the entire world pauses and tunes in," Gregg wrote to his son in a letter, part of FIFA's Letters that Unite campaign. "It's a magnificent stage, but also a privilege—one that most people will never experience. Savor every second of it. Embrace the anthem. Embrace the pressure. Embrace the joy of competing alongside your teammates and standing for something greater than yourself.
"Moments like this will change your life forever ... But regardless of what unfolds on the pitch, I hope you always remember this: I am proud of you for who you are, not for what you achieve. You've remained humble through everything. You've stayed grounded. You've stayed kind and grown into a remarkable young man. You earned this. I love you."
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Sebastian Berhalter's Emotional Reaction
Sebastian opened the letter as part of the FIFA campaign, moved to tears by the message and reflecting on the journey he had undertaken.
"I told myself I wasn't going to cry. I swear. It means everything," he said. "To hear your dad tell you he's proud of you—that means so much. I've put in the hard work for this moment and to see that ... I think he's always been straight with me. I've always been a bit delusional about things. I've always been almost crazy at times, believing I deserved to be somewhere I wasn't."
At one point earlier in his career, Sebastian had suggested he deserved a spot in the squad and was firmly told "no" by his father, who laid out exactly what was expected of a national team player. Since then, his progression has been extraordinary as he plays through the final year of his current contract with Vancouver.
Sebastian Berhalter brought to tears while reading a letter from his dad — former USMNT head coach and player, Gregg Berhalter, ahead of the 2026 World Cup 🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/3D39FlosMY
Now, with his future remaining somewhat uncertain, what the father-son pair do know is that it looks bright. Having been born in London, Sebastian holds a U.K. passport, making it straightforward to pursue opportunities in England or remain in MLS.
For this summer, however, the focus is entirely on the World Cup. Sebastian will get his opportunities under Pochettino and will have the chance to impress millions, beginning with Friday's fixture against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
"It's everything I've ever dreamed of," Sebastian added. "When I first started dreaming, these were my earliest dreams—to play for my country, and doing it on home soil makes it even more special."