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As the old saying goes, “like son, like son.” And there is a new case of that 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 the other couple, with Gio now set for his second trip to the World Cup after debuting in the 2022 edition, where he was trained by Gregg.
Berhalter’s father (who played on the 2002 and 2006 teams alongside Claudio) led the United States to a round of 16 exit from the 2022 World Cup, but was fired after the United States’ disappointing finish at the 2024 Copa América. That led to Mauricio Pochettino being hired as United States coach, opening the door for the younger Berhalter to make his mark.
“Four years ago, his father, Gregg Berhalter, was the coach. [Sebastian] “He was in the stands in Qatar watching this team, and now he’s on this team,” Fox Sports’ Alexi Lalas said on Tuesday’s episode of “Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union” following the U.S. roster reveal.
Gregg had previously said he “could never have picked” his son in 2022, but added that “everything is where it’s supposed to be. It’s his turn. Now is his time.”
Lalas added that Gregg’s dismissal was a pivotal moment in Sebastian’s path to the World Cup roster.
“I was reading those quotes from Gregg Berhalter. He is proud of his son, but he is also incredibly honest. Sebastian Berhalter is not on this team if Gregg Berhalter is still the coach,” argued Lalas.
“As painful as the moment was when Gregg Berhalter was fired from the USMNT, it is the reason his son is now representing the United States in the World Cup,” Lalas added. “As a parent, I’m probably pretty happy and if that’s the trade-off, I think I’d be okay with it.”
Sebastian Berhalter is part of the 2026 squad. 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 at which he has played over the past year, shining for both the United States and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Holden argued that criticism surrounding Berhalter’s inclusion is tied to a greater lack of respect toward MLS players despite their recent performances.
“MLS bias. We have two guys, Berhalter and [Seattle’s Cristian] Roland, they are good soccer players,” Holden said. “They have performed 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 either Roldán or Berhalter in a World Cup match.
“I have no qualms or hesitation in saying I would start any of those guys in a game, and I don’t think the standard will go down,” Holden added.
Holden’s defense also reflects how much MLS representation remains on this US roster.
Eight current MLS players made the 26-player World Cup squad, while 13 additional players on the roster previously came through MLS academies or spent time developing in the league before moving abroad.
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 the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34) and each match will be broadcast live and on demand on both the fox one and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, 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, as will the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
