Sebastian Berhalter’s Commitment and Contributions ‘Priceless’ in USMNT Camp
The midfielder for Middlesbrough FC has recorded one goal and one assist in each of the USMNT’s previous two matches
PHOENIX – It wasn’t long ago that midfielder Sebastian Berhalter was called into his first camp with the U.S. Men’s National Team, the same position where 13 of his current USMNT teammates on head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s 28-man roster are right now.
Since earning his first cap on June 11, 2025 against Switzerland, Berhalter’s career has been eventful, and his trajectory has been climbing. In the span between his international debut and the current fall camp, the 25-year-old has earned 20 caps, scored four goals, transferred clubs and represented the U.S. on two of the sport’s biggest stages – at FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Berhalter is also producing at an incredible rate, for both club and country. Most recently, he has recorded a total of two goals and two assists in the USMNT’s two opening wins against Peru and Chile of the four-match window, becoming just the second player in USMNT history to have a 1+ goal and 1+ assist in consecutive matches. The only other player to do so was Landon Donovan against El Salvador and Honduras during the knockout stages of the Gold Cup in 1995.
In six of his 20 USMNT matches, Berhalter has recorded at least one goal. Four of those six have been multiple goal contributions. Since 1995, Berhalter is one of seven USMNT players to have at least four games with at least one goal and one assist, which ranks behind Landon Donovan (13), Christian Pulisic (8), Clint Dempsey (6), Paul Arriola (5), Jozy Altidore (5) and Claudio Reyna (5).
The midfielder is finding the sweet spot, so to speak, both on his shots and service. He’s set up three of center back Chris Richards’ four career international goals, including the latest game-winner against Chile. When asked after the Sept. 29 match what he credits to this efficient run of form, Berhalter chose to shine the light somewhere else rather than himself.
“I think it's more the team,” he said. “We all believe in each other, and you have guys that are hungry to show that they're part of this team. For me, it's about helping the younger guys, and then also just being myself, to show that being yourself is going to be the best version every time.”
This team-oriented mindset, along with his contributions, has earned the praise of his head coach. In his most recent post-match press conference, Pochettino spoke highly of Berhalter, calling him “a great guy” and a versatile player who can fill multiple positions if needed.
“To have a player like him is priceless,” Pochettino said. “It's difficult to value. Not only what he’s doing… it’s in the way that he shows [it] to another player – how to be professional, how he cares about himself, how he helps.
“The energy, the commitment and everything that he does in the match is for the National Team and for the teammate,” Pochettino continued. “He’s a very good role model player for the players that arrived for the first time or the player that might be watching from home.”
As the son of former U.S. Men’s National Team and Chicago Fire FC head coach Gregg Berhalter, Sebastian is a coach’s kid, through and through. He’s often described as energetic, someone who plays with a lot of passion, which was evident in the World Cup. When the USMNT trailed late in the Round of 16 match to Belgium, Berhalter entered as a substitute, unloaded a screaming shot that just missed wide, and raised his arms to urge the sold-out crowd at Seattle Stadium to keep believing.
“I'm just trying to be myself; I'm never trying to be more than that,” Berhalter said after the win over Chile. “I just love playing soccer. I think that's all it comes down to. That I love being here. And I love playing for my country. I don't think there's much more to it.”
As much as Pochettino and U.S. Men’s National Team value those traits on the international level, it also seems to be serving Berhalter well at his new club, Middlesbrough FC. The club located in North Yorkshire is a small town where Berhalter says the people “live, breathe and eat” soccer.
After joining Middlesbrough FC in the summer, the English-born American is the club’s second-leading goal contributor with two goals and two assists in all competitions, helping his club to an early third place start in the English Championship standings.
It’s Berhalter’s first time arriving at National Team camp from overseas. After the World Cup, the midfielder transferred from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in MLS where he helped the club win four consecutive TELUS Canadian Championships, reach the 2025 Concacaf Champions Club Final and become a regular fixture at the top of the Western Conference table. He departed Vancouver with 167 appearances across all competitions, fifth-most in the club’s MLS era, 20 goals and 34 assists.
Before joining Vancouver, and before a short stint with Austin FC, he was part of the Columbus Crew Academy from 2014-2019. Berhalter made a total of 103 appearances, 97 of those starts, and scored 11 goals for the Black & Gold. At Middlesbrough he reunited with National Team players who were also previously with the Crew, Aidan Morris and Max Arfsten.
“It feels like almost like a fake European experience because you're hanging out with your boys every day,” Berhalter said. “You have Aidan, who's pretty much crashed course the whole city, knows where to go, and maybe where not to go. But it's fun. We're enjoying it. We have a good team. We have a clear goal to be promoted by the end of the year.”
While his production is leading to positive results on the field, Berhalter is also focused on helping the younger players in camp. One of 13 World Cup holdovers, Berhalter is about 16 months removed from being in their shoes as a first-time call-up and debutant in 2025, so he can connect with both the experienced and younger players in camp.
Like many of the veterans, or more seasoned players on Pochettino’s roster, Berhalter has taken it upon himself to welcome the younger players into the fold. He’s been focused on setting a positive example that can be emulated and carried over from match to match, camp to camp, generation to generation.
“It's about our individual performances and making sure we're keeping the standard,” Berhalter said. “And also showing everyone around us what it takes and what it means to be a part of this country and what it takes to play for the badge.”