USMNT Coach to Announce World Cup Squad
Coach Mauricio Pochettino of the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) is set to unveil the 26-man squad for the World Cup on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Pier 17 along the East River in Manhattan.
A recent leak has already hinted at some players who will be included. Among them are Sebastian Berhalter, 25, and Gio Reyna, 23, both hailing from prominent American soccer families.
The friendship between their families spans decades, although a recent scandal has strained that connection, creating ripples within the USMNT program. Despite the tension, it seems likely that they will be teammates representing the U.S. down the line.
Roger Bennett, the founder and host of the podcast Men in Blazers, described the situation as “confusing” and “heartbreaking,” illustrating the layers of complexities at play.
The backstory of Berhalter and Reyna stretches back to the 1980s. Both of their fathers, Gregg Berhalter and Claudio Reyna, were teenage soccer standouts at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey. Their close friendship continued through college, with Berhalter heading to the University of North Carolina and Reyna attending the University of Virginia.
Later, both men became key players for the USMNT during the 1990s and into the early 2000s, sharing the field in the 2002 World Cup. At that time, Reyna was noted as one of the standout midfielders.
Even after their playing days, both stayed involved in the soccer world, with Berhalter ascending to coaching and Reyna taking on an executive role.
Adding another layer to their friendship, Berhalter’s wife Rosalind and Reyna’s wife Danielle were college roommates and played together on the women’s soccer team at UNC. In fact, Claudio Reyna was close enough to serve as a groomsman at the Berhalters’ wedding.
Fast forward to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Greg was head coach of the USMNT, and Gio, then a promising 20-year-old player, was already making waves in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. Despite high expectations, Gio saw limited playing time, totaling just 52 minutes across four matches.
After the tournament, during a summit in New York, Greg mentioned an unnamed player who struggled with effort and attitude, and it was widely understood he was referring to Gio.
In an Instagram post, Gio expressed his frustration about his limited role, admitting he had let his emotions affect his training. He emphasized that issues within the team should stay internal for the sake of unity.
This seemed to kick off a sequence of events that escalated tensions. Claudio reached out to U.S. Soccer about his son’s treatment, while Danielle confronted officials about a past incident involving Greg and Rosalind at UNC. This led to a public acknowledgment from Greg regarding his actions back then, which he clarified were reconciled long ago.
This revelation triggered an investigation by U.S. Soccer, which found that while Greg could continue coaching, the Reinas’ actions didn’t meet the thresholds of extortion or blackmail.
After Greg’s response, Danielle released her own statement expressing her feelings of betrayal and emphasizing her loyalty to Rosalind following that troubling incident.
The fallout led to Greg’s eventual firing from the USMNT due to lackluster performance, and he now coaches the Chicago Fire FC. Meanwhile, the Reyna family remains distanced from their former friends.
Looks like the soccer community is divided over who overstepped their bounds, and the drama continues to unfold.
As to their futures on the national team, both Berhalter and Reyna have been included in the leaked list. Their playing styles contrast significantly: Gio is known for his creative playmaking, despite struggles with injuries, while Sebastian is more of a consistent role player.
Could seeing them play together on the World Cup stage help resolve some of this turmoil? Only time will tell. Bennett wrapped it up well, saying, “Football is about second acts and redemption.” Let’s hope that rings true in this case.
