Down in a makeshift room within the bowels of SoFi Stadium, Sebastian Berhalter was speaking to a small wall of microphones and digicam lenses when, a number of yards to his left, Gio Reyna started holding court docket, too.
It was a couple of minutes after america’ World Cup opener towards Paraguay. Each Berhalter and Reyna had come off the bench in that 4-1 win and each then spoke about household. About dad and mom and youngsters.
Berhalter’s father, Gregg, coached the USMNT on the 2022 World Cup and, 4 years on, his son mentioned having dad within the stands for his debut on sports activities’ greatest stage. As for Reyna? He had simply scored his maiden World Cup aim – a shocking strike with the skin of his boot. So what higher time to announce his spouse, Chloe, is anticipating their first little one?
It was scene that neatly summed up how a lot had modified – for each gamers, for US soccer, for worse after which for higher.
Sebastian and Gio had been as soon as greatest associates who spoke daily. Their fathers, Gregg and Claudio, performed youth soccer collectively earlier than turning into USMNT teammates on the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Their moms, Danielle Reyna and Rosalind Berhalter, had been roommates, soccer teammates and ‘greatest associates’ on the College of North Carolina. The Reynas and Berhalters had been so shut they had been described as… nicely, like ‘virtually household.’
Then, in 2022, they had been on the heart of one in every of US soccer’s saddest ever sagas. It concerned a World Cup bust-up, allegations of home violence and the rupture of lifelong bonds. The feud grew to become the topic of an impartial investigation, the findings of which had been laid naked over 36 pages.
US stars Sebastian Berhalter and Gio Reyna are able to ‘go to conflict collectively’ at this World Cup
Reyna was practically despatched residence from the 2022 World Cup, when Gregg Berhalter was coach
This summer season, nevertheless, Sebastian and Gio are teammates and, ought to head coach Mauricio Pochettino shuffle his pack towards Turkey this week, there’s a good likelihood they may begin alongside one another within the US midfield.
It’s testomony to each gamers and the togetherness solid below Pochettino at this World Cup. When Reyna scored towards Paraguay, Berhalter was among the many first to seize him in celebration.
‘For me, we’re two gamers on the identical staff attempting to do one of the best we will for our nation,’ the 25-year-old instructed the Every day Mail afterwards. ‘There’s nothing greater than that. To be sincere, there’s not a lot between me and him.
‘We’re right here to make this staff higher and to win video games. I believe we have been clear on that since day one. He’s my teammate and we will conflict collectively.’
That win over Paraguay got here seven months after Reyna and Berhalter had been first named in a USMNT squad collectively. They each began the staff’s World Cup warm-up towards Senegal. Did they ever have to handle all that had gone earlier than?
‘No, I believe we knew,’ Berhalter stated. ‘I believe after we each got here into camp the primary time, we knew the place we had been at. We knew that we’re teammates, and we will do something we will for our nation. It is approach greater than something we’ve happening. So for us it was fairly straightforward.’
4 years in the past, nevertheless, the connection between their households grew to become something however easy. Sebastian was on the 2022 World Cup as a fan – to cheer on the USMNT and to assist his father. Gio Reyna, then simply 20, was named in Gregg Berhalter’s squad earlier than nearly being despatched residence from Qatar.
Reyna scored towards Paraguay after which revealed that his spouse is anticipating a child
Claudio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter performed collectively as youngsters earlier than turning into USA teammates
After the USA’s round-of-16 exit towards the Netherlands. Gio has admitted that, annoyed by an absence of enjoying time, he ‘let my feelings get one of the best of me.’ Gregg Berhalter gave his model of occasions at a management summit.
‘[We] had a participant that was clearly not assembly expectations on and off the sector,’ he stated. ‘As a workers, we sat collectively for hours deliberating what we had been going to do with this participant. We had been able to guide a aircraft ticket residence, that is how excessive it was.’
The affair grew to become very messy, in a short time. Gio’s dad and mom instructed US soccer chiefs that, in 1991, Gregg Berhalter – whereas a school freshman – had assaulted his now-wife, Rosalind. Claudio Reyna had been greatest man at their wedding ceremony.
Gregg, who initially claimed he was being blackmailed, addressed the incident, admitting {that a} ‘heated argument… grew to become bodily and I kicked her within the legs.’ He later stated his ‘total household’ was ‘saddened’ by the unfolding scandal. The US Soccer Federation employed a legislation agency to conduct an investigation.
In accordance with Gregg Berhalter’s testimony, Rosalind had spoken to Danielle Reyna ‘daily for many years.’ However their friendship ‘ended instantly’ on the 2022 World Cup.
As for his job? Gregg’s contract as USMNT head coach expired after the World Cup. Six months later, nevertheless, he was rehired. The 52-year-old then reportedly spoke to mediation specialists earlier than re-connecting with Gio Reyna for the primary time in practically a 12 months.
By October 2023, lower than a 12 months after the World Cup, the midfielder was again in camp with the USMNT. By March 2024, Gio insisted the feud was ‘not even a difficulty in any respect anymore.’ Then in November 2025, Pochettino named each gamers in a squad for the primary time. The supervisor was conscious of the saga however insisted ‘it’s not vital.’
Chloe Reyna is an ex-college soccer participant and the couple tied the knot in New York final July
Reyna says his private life, and being a canine dad, present how a lot issues are completely different now
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino chats to the midfielder throughout coaching in California
Claudio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter are pictured throughout their highschool days in New Jersey
Now the Berhalters and Reynas are again collectively at one other World Cup, the place households have been a vital a part of the US’ early success.
The family members of many gamers are staying close to the staff lodge and Pochettino has already giving his staff a number of days off to unwind together with their family and friends. That would have led to awkward reunions and the re-opening of outdated wounds.
As an alternative? Sebastian and Gio may line up alongside each other at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night time. In opposition to Paraguay, the Berhalters grew to become solely the second father-son duo to symbolize the US at a World Cup. Earlier than them got here the Reynas.
‘Clearly, so much has modified [since 2022] – I’m married now, I’ve a canine,’ Gio stated forward of this match. ‘I [have] matured and grown up in lots of points of my life… everyone seems to be to date faraway from [the feud].’
He added: ‘It is laborious for me to even take into consideration that as a result of I by no means actually do and I am simply for the time being clearly simply serious about this World Cup and what I can do to assist the staff.’
