Former UNC men's soccer program and current Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Major League Soccer) player Sebastian Berhalter has been named to the U.S. men's national team roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Gold Cup is an international tournament of North and Central American countries, plus countries in the Caribbean Sea, that will take place in the United States and Canada this June.
Berhalter only spent one year in Chapel Hill during the 2019 season, but his Tar Heel ties run deep. Both of his parents, Gregg Berhalter and Rosalind Berhalter (nee Santana) played soccer at North Carolina back in the 1990s. After his single season at UNC, Sebastian signed with his hometown club, the Columbus Crew. After his first year, Berhalter was loaned out to Austin FC before being traded for cash considerations to Vancouver.
A tidy midfielder, Sebastian Berhalter isn't known for his scoring prowess, but when he does score, it's been impactful. He scored two goals and notched two assists in two games against Inter Miami in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals to help the Whitecaps reach their first-ever tournament final. (Vancouver eventually lost to Mexican club Cruz Azul in the final).
If Berhalter can stake some important minutes during the Gold Cup, it will put him in the driver's seat to earn playing time during the 2026 World Cup. It's an important summer for the former Tar Heel.