As the United States men gear up for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, a number of familiar faces won’t be around to defend their place in the squad.
With the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun, Sergino Dest, and many other USMNT first-team regulars all out of action for the summer tournament, a number of fringe players will have the chance to stake a claim to future consideration, with the FIFA World Cup on home soil coming in a year’s time.
One of those new faces has a recognizable last name. Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter has been selected for national-team duty for the first time and could potentially make his USMNT debut this summer.
The Sporting News details Sebastian’s recognizable connection to the USMNT and why he’s been brought in for a potential international debut.
MORE: A full look at the USMNT roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Is Sebastian Berhalter Gregg Berhalter’s son?
Yes, Sebastian Berhalter is the son of former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter.
Sebastian was born in London while his father was playing a brief stint for English club Crystal Palace, where he made 19 appearances.
He grew up in Columbus, Ohio, joining the youth ranks of the Columbus Crew in 2014 before playing a year of NCAA soccer at the University of North Carolina, his father’s alma mater.
Sebastian has also spent time at the youth academy of Swedish club Hammarby where his father was coaching between 2011 and 2013, before joining the Crew academy when Gregg became head coach in 2013, where he would spend five years until being hired by the USMNT.
Sebastian Berhalter career before USMNT call-up
After spending six years in the Columbus Crew youth academy, Sebastian Berhalter made nine first-team appearances in 2020 and 2021, but his future would not lie with the Ohio club.
After being sent out on loan to Austin FC in 2021, where he would make 18 appearances, he was traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps for general allocation money and would find a more welcoming home in Canada.
Berhalter is nearing the century mark of appearances for the Whitecaps and has rapidly improved as a playmaking midfielder. The 24-year-old contributed heavily to Vancouver’s run to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in early 2025, before the federation’s outdated yellow-card suspension rules saw him cruelly banned for the final.
It’s clear that Berhalter’s presence in the national team is well deserved. This season in MLS, Berhalter ranks in the 95th percentile for shot-creating actions amongst midfielders, as he is a ball-progressing specialist both distributing and receiving. He also contributes defensively, with a high number of tackles and interceptions to go along with his on-ball talents.
