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Proud to represent Vancouver
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“This has been different, you know,” US men’s national team midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. "This is all you can dream of as a young kid in America. This is the point, you know, that I dreamed of getting to, and being in the field, and just seeing all the people in the stands, and you know it's packed, and everyone's chanting, and it's a dream come true for an American soccer player.” Transfermarkt caught up with Berhalter as part of a media roundtable to discuss his role with the US men’s national team, his role in Mauricio Pochettino’s tactical setup, and his future with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
On the back of a strong season and a half with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Berhalter was called up to represent the United States at the 2026 World Cup. The 25-year-old came off the bench in both games for the US at this tournament, helping his country to a perfect start by securing a 4-1 win over Paraguay and a 2-0 victory over Australia. As a result, the Americans have already secured first place in Group D.
Still, Berhalter feels that the final game against Türkiye will be important. “It is the same way as every other game, you know, it's a big game, and we want to have good momentum going into the next round,” Berhalter said. “So, yeah, it's an important game.” What does he expect from Türkiye? " Quality-wise, they're one of the best teams in our group,” Berhalter said. You know, they have guys playing at [Real] Madrid and Inter [Milan], and just really good players, so it's not definitely an easy game.”
Berhalter: Pochettino ‘believed in me’ – Playing for the US is a ‘privilege’
This season, Berhalter has scored seven goals and four assists in 18 games across all competitions for the Whitecaps. Indeed, an argument could be made that Berhalter is the heartbeat of what might be one of the best teams in Concacaf. Those performances have been rewarded with Berhalter's market value skyrocketing to €8m this season, making him the most valuable Major League Soccer player in the US men’s national team squad. Still, some doubters questioned whether Berhalter should be included in the squad.
US head coach Pochettino wasn’t among them, though. “I would say Mauricio just believed in me, he said just to be yourself, to not make it more than it is, he's been from day one a believer in what I do and the quality that I have, and he wants me to keep evolving and keep learning and keep growing and being myself, and I think that's what he's emphasized, and no, honestly, it doesn't feel like pressure, man, to play for this team,” Berhalter said. “It feels like it's a privilege, and you know you're playing on home soil, so it feels like this is what we do. I've been doing this now for the last year; some guys have been doing it for the last seven years, and we love playing at home, and to have the crowd in our favour is amazing.”
What tactical expectations does Pochettino have for Berhalter? “It’s just about being myself whether I'm starting or if I'm coming in, and you know, really being a guy who can dictate the tempo and win balls, be organized, and I think he just trusts me, whatever the game is, or wherever the game's at, to come in and play the role.” Berhalter believes these attributes will be important for the US as the tournament progresses. “I've already played good minutes if I start amazing,” Berhalter said. “If not, amazing. You know, I'm at a World Cup, and I'm representing my country in whatever capacity, whatever role I'll be ready. So, yeah, for me it's about just being myself and being ready.”
Sebastian Berhalter's future: ‘A chance to represent Vancouver’
Berhalter headed into the last season of his contract and has already been linked with a move to Europe. “It definitely is,” Berhalter said when asked whether the World Cup is a platform to advertise his skills. But then he added: “It's also a chance for me to represent Vancouver, to represent them in a positive way, to represent MLS in a positive way. It is an opportunity to show that I am ready, step up to the challenge, and play alongside some of the best players in the world. But the most important thing is what we’re doing here: winning games and trying to go as far as we can, and I think about all the other stuff after.”
How far can the United States go at this tournament? “We want to go all the way, and that's something we have been saying consistently since day one,” Berhalter said. “Since we started talking about this, that's been our belief. And now people are starting to believe a little more in us, but you know, within the camp, within the group, we've always believed that we can win the World Cup, and that's been the standard set from day one.”
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