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Losing a monumental coaching job is brutal, but former USA head coach Gregg Berhalter has a way to continue supporting the team: his son.
Berhalter’s son, Sebastian Berhalter, is a midfielder for Team USA in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the former U.S. coach wrote a heartfelt letter to his son, which was released Tuesday.
Berhalter wrote in his note to Sebastian:
“The World Cup is one of the rare moments when the whole world stops and watches. It’s a beautiful scene, but it’s also a privilege, one that most people will never experience. Enjoy every second. Soak up the anthem. Embrace the pressure. Embrace 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 always remember this: I’m proud of you because of who you are, not because of what you accomplish. You stayed humble through it all. You stayed grounded. You stayed kind. And you became an incredible young man.
“You deserved it. I love you.”
Berhalter also said he admired how his son “never took anything for granted” and explained how the two “shared an experience that very few fathers and sons would ever share.”
Regarding the former USA coach, Berhalter, who played for the USA team, served two terms as the club’s head coach: 2018-22 and 2023-24. His contract expired after the 2022 World Cup, which saw Team USA eliminated in the round of 16, with the federation opting to have interim head coaches before bringing Berhalter back in June 2023.
That said, Berhalter was fired after Team USA failed to advance past pool play in the 2024 Copa América; Former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has been hired as the new head coach of the American team in September 2024.
Berhalter has been the head coach of the Chicago Fire (MLS) since 2024.
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will be Sebastian Berhalter’s first time at the World Cup. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As for the young Berhalter, the 25-year-old is in his fifth season with the Vancouver Whitecaps (2022-26) and his seventh season in MLS overall; he spent his 2020 rookie campaign with the Columbus Crew, who won the MLS Cup championship that year, and his second season with Austin FC (2021).
This season, Berhalter has six goals, four assists and one penalty. The Whitecaps lead the Western Conference with a 10-2-2 record; The 2026 MLS season is currently suspended due to the World Cup, with the season resuming on July 16.
The march to the World Cup begins for Berhalter and Team USA on Friday night, as they take on Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium in Los Angeles, California, which can be viewed at 9 p.m. ET on FOX and stream on the FOX One app.
The United States in the family
