Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter, once close friends whose families were deeply intertwined, are now teammates aiming for World Cup glory together, a stark contrast to the discord that marked the 2022 tournament. The two midfielders, whose fathers Claudio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter were both U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) players and whose mothers were college roommates, are focused on their current role with the national team under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
"For me, we're two players on the same team trying to do the best we can for our country," Sebastian Berhalter told the Daily Mail. "There's nothing more than that. To be honest, there’s not much between me and him. We are here to make this team better and to win games. I think we've been clear on that since day one. He’s my teammate and we're going to war together."
Their fathers, Claudio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter, shared a history as youth soccer players before becoming USMNT teammates in the early 2000s. Their mothers, Danielle Reyna and Rosalind Berhalter, were also close friends and teammates at the University of North Carolina. This long-standing familial connection was fractured in 2022 when allegations of domestic violence involving Gregg Berhalter and his wife Rosalind came to light during the World Cup. The situation led to an independent investigation by U.S. Soccer.
Gio Reyna, then 20, faced almost being sent home from the 2022 World Cup after expressing frustration over playing time. Gregg Berhalter, who was the head coach at the time, stated that a player was not meeting expectations on or off the field, leading to deliberations about sending him home. The controversy escalated when Gio's parents reportedly informed U.S. Soccer officials about an alleged assault by Gregg Berhalter against his then-girlfriend Rosalind in 1991. Gregg Berhalter later admitted to a physical altercation during a heated argument.
Following the 2022 World Cup, Gregg Berhalter's contract as head coach expired but he was rehired six months later. Reports indicated he consulted with mediation experts before reconnecting with Gio Reyna. By October 2023, Gio Reyna was back in the USMNT camp. By March 2024, Reyna stated the past conflict was "not even an issue at all anymore."
In November 2025, Pochettino selected both players for the national team squad for the first time, acknowledging the past saga but deeming it "not important."
This current World Cup environment has seen families playing a significant role in the team's success. Players have been given time off to spend with loved ones near the team hotel. Sebastian Berhalter recently became the second father-son duo to represent the U.S. at a World Cup, following the Reynas. Gio Reyna noted his personal growth, including marriage and becoming a dog owner, contributing to his current perspective.
"Obviously, a lot has changed [since 2022] – I’m married now, I have a dog," Reyna said ahead of the tournament. "I [have] matured and grown up in many aspects of my life… everyone is so far removed from [the feud]. It's hard for me to even think about that because I never really do and I'm just at the moment obviously just thinking about this World Cup and what I can do to help the team."