Letter to Sebastian Berhalter

Dear Sebastian,

It’s hard to describe what this moment feels like as your father.

You were born during one of the most emotional weeks of my career. We had just played the final match of the season with Crystal Palace against Stockport and won to stay in the league. At the time, it felt like a big moment in my life. Then you were born. And suddenly life gave me something infinitely more important.

From the very beginning, your life has been connected to this game. From growing up in Europe to back home in the United States, the ball always seemed to follow you. But what has always stood out to me was not just your talent, it was your genuine love for the game and how dedicated you were to getting better. Your hard work set the tone from a very young age. You chased every play, competed for every ball, and gave everything you had every time you stepped on the field.

That has never changed.

What I admire most about you is that you’ve never taken anything for granted. You understood early on that nothing would be handed to you. I remember preparing for a National Team camp in 2024, when you asked me if I thought you had a chance to make the roster. And I had to answer honestly. I told you that if you weren’t consistently starting for your club yet, it would be difficult to make the National Team.

I could see the disappointment in your face, hear the disappointment in your voice, but from that day on I saw something change. I saw you take responsibility for your dream. From that moment forward, I watched you push harder. Work harder. Commit yourself fully to becoming the player you believed you could be. That’s why making the World Cup team means so much to me, because I know how much it means to you.

I’ve been fortunate enough to represent our country as a player and as a coach in the World Cup, and I know what it means to wear that crest. I know the responsibility, the pressure, the pride, and the emotion that come with representing the United States on the biggest stage in the world. And now I get to watch my son live that same dream, and together we get to share an experience that very few fathers and sons ever will.

There’s no way to explain how special that is.

The World Cup is one of the rare moments when the entire world stops and watches. It’s a beautiful stage, but it’s also a privilege, one that most people will never know. Enjoy every second of it. 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.

But no matter what happens on the field, I hope you 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.

Dad

Sebastian’s Response

I swear I told myself that I wouldn't cry. It means everything… To hear your dad say he’s proud of you. It means a lot. I’ve worked hard for this moment and to see that… It’s very nice. Very nice.

I think he’s always been real with me. I’ve always been delusional about things. I’ve always been almost crazy at some points, and believing that I should be on something that I’m not. I told him I should be in that team, and I’m always going to think that I belong there, and he told me “no” and he was 100% right, you know?

It means everything. I don’t want to cry again, but it means everything. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed about. It’s a dream come true. It’s what I’ve wanted since I’ve been the littlest of kids, and when I started dreaming, those were my first dreams—you know, to play for my country, and to do it on home soil is even better. So, yeah, it’s an indescribable feeling.

Anything else you want to say to your dad?

Thank you, man. I love you, I appreciate you, and I wouldn’t be here without you, my mum included. He’s my best friend. He has always been there for me, always known how to push me, and also support me. Hopefully, I can be half the father he is when I’m older for my kids. He has taught me everything I need to know, and I just want to go and make him proud.