Gregg Berhalter, the head coach of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team, is watching the World Cup from a different perspective this year – as a proud father. His son, Sebastian Berhalter, is a player on the U.S. squad competing in the tournament. Gregg Berhalter had initially hoped to be coaching in this World Cup, but his focus has shifted to supporting his son's performance on the field.
Sebastian Berhalter has made a notable impact in the tournament. Early in the second half of a match where the U.S. trailed Turkey 2-1, he scored an equalizer described as a highlight-reel goal, a powerful shot from just outside the penalty area off a rebound. "The ball just popped out, and I knew if I stayed calm and just made a swing motion, that I had a chance," Sebastian Berhalter said about the goal. "I practice those a lot."
His father, Gregg, commented on his son's scoring ability. "He doesn’t score ugly goals," Gregg Berhalter told TIME in a phone interview after the game. "He only scores good goals." Gregg Berhalter was en route to Chicago, where he coaches the Fire, the city’s MLS team, at the time of the interview.
Teammate Folarin Balogun praised Sebastian Berhalter's performance in the match. "He was amazing," Balogun said. "I told him straight after the game, he had a great game. He was making decisive passes, putting in great work, and the goal as well. So I’m very, very happy for him." Balogun himself has scored two goals in the tournament and was credited with creating an own goal in the team's 2-0 victory over Australia on June 19.