Gregg Berhalter pens emotional World Cup letter to son Sebastian ahead of USA debut

Gregg Berhalter may no longer be on the USA touchline, but the former head coach found a way to mark his son’s first World Cup appearance — publishing an open letter to Sebastian Berhalter ahead of the United States’ 2026 tournament opener against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday.

In the letter, released Tuesday, the elder Berhalter urged his son to savour every detail of the occasion. “The World Cup is one of the rare moments when the entire world stops and watches,” he wrote. “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.”

He closed with a message that separated fatherly pride from footballing results: “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 reflected on the unique bond the occasion creates, noting that the two of them “get to share an experience that very few fathers and sons ever will” and praising Sebastian for having “never taken anything for granted.”

The family connection to USA Soccer runs deep. Gregg Berhalter himself played for the national team before serving two stints as head coach — from 2018 to 2022 and again from June 2023 to 2024. His first tenure ended when his contract expired after the 2022 World Cup, where the USA were eliminated in the Round of 16. He was reappointed in 2023 but was let go after the United States failed to advance past the group stage at Copa América 2024. Mauricio Pochettino, previously manager at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, was appointed as his successor in September 2024. Gregg Berhalter has since taken charge of Chicago Fire in MLS.

Sebastian, 25, is in his fifth season with the Vancouver Whitecaps and his seventh in MLS overall. He began his career with the Columbus Crew — winning the MLS Cup in his 2020 rookie year — before a season at Austin FC and his move to Vancouver in 2022. This season he has contributed six goals, four assists and one converted penalty as the Whitecaps sit top of the Western Conference with a 10-2-2 record. The MLS season is currently paused for the World Cup and is due to resume on 16 July.

Friday’s group-stage match against Paraguay will be Sebastian Berhalter’s first appearance on a World Cup roster.