Since the calendar flipped to 2026, it’s been non-stop for Sebastian Berhalter, and he likes it.
Berhalter is enjoying his first few months at English second-tier side Middlesbrough, helping the club to their current top spot in the EFL Championship. After 18 games with the Vancouver Whitecaps and nine additional appearances for the US Men’s National Team earlier this year, Berhalter headed overseas for a new chapter in his career.
The schedule has not stopped for Berhalter, who has made a combined 18 appearances for club and country since the 2026-27 season began last August. While there hasn’t been much rest for Berhalter, he relishes the opportunity to play week in and weekend out, especially for a club with high aspirations.
“I feel good,” Berhalter told SBI. “There wasn’t much downtime [after the World Cup]but I feel ready for it. I feel like I’m ready to take on that burden and I’m ready to perform at a high level, even though it’s a lot of games. I enjoy it. When you play a lot, it’s best to be good.
“It’s been a club I’ve watched a lot over the last two years, not just because of Aidan, but because the coach has shown them an attractive style of football that I enjoy,” Berhalter said. “Obviously having Aidan here and talking to me about the club and all the great traditions in their history and what he can do for my career has helped. This team has a chance to go up and my main goal is to come here and help the team go up.”
Berhalter’s move to Middlesbrough not only brought him a direct role in the team, but also linked him with several international team-mates.
Aidan Morris is in his third season with Middlesbrough after previously joining Berhalter at MLS side Columbus Crew, while Max Arfsten joined Berhalter last summer after both were part of the USMNT picture for the past year and a half. Rokas Pukstas is one of the new faces at the club and although he and Berhalter haven’t spent much time on the pitch, they have continued to form a strong bond.
Berhalter appreciates his chemistry with his three fellow Americans, knowing he’s benefited from his adjustment in England.
“It’s been great, we always have fun, which is nice,” Berhalter said. “Max lives across the street from me, so it’s really cool. Rocky’s [Rokas] it was great. He’s a great kid. He does his job and just wants to learn. He wants to take everything and use it and it’s great to be around someone like that, it’s just a sponge, 24-7. Max and I feel like we spent the last year together, we were together in the summer and then we went straight to Middlesbrough together. It’s been great and now she’s one of my best friends and it’s really special to have a relationship with her.
“And then Aidan was great,” Berhalter added. “He helped us all sort things out and told us where to go and where not to go. It’s amazing to play with your best friends. We have a lot of fun times on and off the pitch, so yeah, we’re doing great. Everyone’s been doing well and now it’s just a matter of getting on with it. It’s made it a lot easier. We’ve got each other’s back and you’ve already talked a lot about Aidananre through everything.”
Berhalter didn’t have to wait long to see the pitch for Middlesbrough, a testament to Kim Hellberg’s early trust in him.
The 25-year-old scored the winner on his Middlesbrough debut, scoring on 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Wrexham in the first round of the EFL Cup. Arfsten also eventually made his debut for the club, with both players receiving a standing ovation from the home fans at the Riverside Stadium at the final whistle.
Berhalter enjoyed his opening night performance moments and admitted he wanted to prove he belonged right away.
“It was amazing,” Berhalter said of his debut against Wrexham. “Going back to that game, it was a fun game. It was my first real competitive game in Europe, so I couldn’t believe it for a while and then I got down to business. I was just playing and enjoying it and trying to do what I was doing and use my strengths to help my team win. It was definitely a great game to play.”
13 games later and Berhalter has added two goals and one more assist in 1,000 minutes played.
Middlesbrough’s only league defeat of the season came against Blackburn Rovers on 22 August, but they have since climbed the league table. Hellberg’s men are yet to lose at home this season, while taking a paltry 11 of the 18 points available away from home in the EFL Championship race.
Berhalter is pleased with the team’s 12-game start but knows there is still a long way to go in the promotion race this season.
“We have faith and I think it’s just taking it one game at a time and not looking too far ahead,” Berhalter said. “Our coach prepares us really well so that we don’t look too far ahead and we’re just focused on the task at hand. I think everyone’s in good spirits and just ready to move forward.”
The EFL Championship is still considered one of the toughest leagues in Europe due to its 45-match season schedule and large number of game weeks. Middlesbrough’s participation in the EFL Cup earlier this autumn led to a few weeks in which they played three games in seven to eight days.
Despite losing at Crystal Palace in early September, Middlesbrough’s league table has continued to progress this December-January with a frenetic holiday period still on the horizon.
A busy schedule is nothing new for Berhalter, who has played several multi-match weeks with the Whitecaps and believes it has helped him prepare for the EFL’s compressed schedule.
“I think it’s similar in that sense,” Berhalter said of multi-game week schedules. “I feel like we’ve played a lot of three-game weeks in Vancouver, especially last year. I think it’s different here in terms of intensity because it means a lot to people, to the players, and it’s life or death, promotion-relegation. Everyone feels like every game is a fight for our lives and I think it’s fun to be a part of.”
Before Berhalter moved to England, a prolific run with the Whitecaps over several seasons brought him into the USMNT picture in 2025. USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino rewarded Berhalter with his senior debut at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, leading to a flourishing midfielder and four goals.
Berhalter made his FIFA World Cup debut on home soil last summer, helping the Americans reach the round of 16 before losing 4-1 to Belgium. Despite the USMNT’s disappointing performance, Berhalter was one of the few players to impress at the World Cup, as the program itself received huge support domestically.
Berhalter credited Pochettino’s influence on him and the support of the USMNT fan base as he knows how important both sides are to his role at the team.
“He was awesome,” Berhalter said of Pochettino. “He’s given me every opportunity to succeed and I’m trying to reward him by being myself, being a good person and then being a good player and helping the team win. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me so far in my career and I’m really excited that he’s re-signed. We just want to keep going and make it a national thing. I don’t want to play against him. He’s done a great job and I hope to play more for the national team.
“We felt a lot of love from the fans and support from people who had never watched football before, so to see the whole nation really rallying around our team for three or four weeks was the best thing, it was fantastic,” he said. “It’s been pretty cool just to see the impact it’s had on the United States, to see people start to understand soccer and what it means and what a great sport it is.”
Berhalter has remained a key figure in the USMNT squad since the World Cup, playing in four of the squad’s friendlies during the extended September-October window. He had two goals and two assists as the Americans defeated Chile, Peru, Mexico and Canada in three weeks.
In addition, 13 new faces made their senior international debuts, including several young MLS talents such as Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Peyton Miller and Justin Ellis. Berhalter has enjoyed working with the next generation of USA talent who know how important they can be to the development of the program.
“We enjoyed it,” Berhalter said. “I think the biggest thing was the fun. Being with all the young guys, trying to understand their personalities and what they can bring. We had a good time and I think it was the best thing to meet these guys who play in MLS and help them get into our group and be successful. It was a great time and it was great to win four.
“It’s exciting that we have such a good group of players and it makes me excited to be a part of this team and play in this country,” added Berhalter. “It shows we’re developing and the players coming in are really smart players, there are a lot of them and I’m sure there’s more to come. We’ve got real youngsters and the guys feel good when they know they’re helping the group in a positive way. It’s pretty cool.”
As Berhalter prepares himself for a potential USMNT role this November, he also remains fortunate to have a great supporting cast to call family.
Berhalter’s father, Gregg, was on two USMNT World Cup rosters and also played professionally in MLS and overseas. He later served as the program’s head coach on two separate occasions and is currently in the same role with the Chicago Fire in MLS, where he also serves as Director of Soccer.
Berhalter’s mother, Rosalind, also excelled in soccer at the University of North Carolina, winning four NCAA National Championships.
Having both parents in her corner is something Berhalter is grateful for, as she knows both can help in different ways.
“I’m very lucky to have someone like him [Gregg] in my corner,” Berhalter said. “He’s been through everything I’ve been through, probably twice. He has seen the world and has that experience as a player, and then he can help me make the best decisions as a coach and even as a general manager.
“I can’t thank her enough, I’m so lucky to have her as a rock like my mom and dad and someone who will always support me in anything I need,” she said. “Among them, I’m in a good place and I’m pretty lucky.”
Berhalter’s focus will remain at Middlesbrough, especially with three matches remaining in the November international break and 13 in 2026. A packed Championship schedule means a run of positive form could do wonders for Middlesbrough’s promotion push, while a few hiccups could prove costly heading into the new year.
Berhalter knows there will be several teams chasing Middlesbrough, including recently relegated Premier League sides West Ham United and Wolves, but staying in gives them the best chance of achieving their goals.
“We try to stay consistent,” Berhalter said. “I think I’ve seen people in England start to go a bit crazy because they’ve been there or seen the other side of it. For us, it’s about keeping our composure and understanding that we’re a good team so we don’t panic at certain moments. Staying together and continuing to do what we’re taught, we continue to do what we’re taught. To keep doing what we’re doing, which is one game at a time.