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As the old saying goes: “like father, like son”. And there’s a new case of this kind with the United States men’s national team.
The United States released its 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday and with his inclusion, Sebastian Berhalter will join his father Gregg Berhalter as the second father-son duo to play for the United States in a World Cup.
The Berhalters join Gio Reyna and his father Claudio Reyna (a three-time World Cup participant) as another duo, with Gio now set for his second trip to the World Cup following his debut in the 2022 edition – where he was coached by Gregg.
The elder Berhalter (who played on the 2002 and 2006 teams alongside Claudio) coached the United States to the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup, but was fired after the United States’ disappointing result in the 2024 Copa América. This led to the hiring of Mauricio Pochettino as US coach, allowing the younger Berhalter to make his mark.
“Four years ago, his father, Gregg Berhalter, was the coach. [Sebastian] was in the stands in Qatar watching this team, and now he’s a part of this team,” Fox Sports’ Alexi Lalas said on Tuesday’s episode of “Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union” after the U.S. roster was revealed.
Gregg previously said he “never could have chosen” his son in 2022, but added “everything is in its place. It’s his turn. It’s his time now.”
Lalas added that Gregg’s dismissal was a pivotal moment in Sebastian’s path to the World Cup team.
“I was reading these quotes from Gregg Berhalter. He’s proud of his son, but he’s also incredibly honest. Sebastian Berhalter doesn’t belong on this team if Gregg Berhalter is still the coach,” Lalas explained.
“As painful as it was when Gregg Berhalter was fired from the USMNT, it is the reason why his son is now representing the United States at the World Cup,” Lalas added. “As a father, he’s probably pretty happy and if that’s the trade-off, I think he’d be OK with it.”
Sebastian Berhalter is part of the 2026 team. Gregg Berhalter coached the 2022 team (Getty Images)
FOX Sports soccer analyst Stu Holden said he believes Berhalter, 25, would have made the team anyway because of the level he has played at over the past year, shining for both the United States and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Holden argued that the criticism surrounding Berhalter’s inclusion is linked to a greater lack of respect for MLS players despite their recent performances.
“MLS bias. We have two guys, Berhalter and [Seattle’s Cristian] Roldan, they’re good soccer players,” Holden said. “They’ve played well in big moments for the United States and are having a great year with their teams.”
Holden added that he would feel completely comfortable starting Roldan or Berhalter in a World Cup match.
“I have no qualms or hesitation in saying I would start either of these guys in a game, and I don’t think the standard is going down,” Holden added.
Holden’s defense also reflects how much MLS representation remains on this US roster.
Eight current MLS players were part of the 26-man World Cup squad, while an additional 13 players on the roster had previously come through MLS academies or spent time developing in the league before heading overseas.
FIFA World Cup 2026: how to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34), with each match broadcast live and on demand in both countries. FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, along with the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
