The United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) eliminated Costa Rica from the Gold Cup in a penalty shootout. However, victory didn’t come until midfielder Sebastian Berhalter missed a penalty, prompting the inevitable reaction from his father, Gregg, who once coached the Stars and Stripes team.
Gregg Berhalter sat like any other fan in the stands, staring at his son, Sebastian, who stepped up to take a crucial penalty. The moment was electrifying, but it was accompanied by anguish. The shot sailed over the crossbar, a miss that resonated throughout the stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What was the former USMNT coach’s reaction like at the Gold Cup?
Gregg’s face, captured on camera, told a universal story of paternal grief. He briefly closed his eyes, a grimace betraying the pain of watching his son falter on such a public stage. Every father knows that pain of watching a child falter under pressure.
Gregg, no longer the U.S. national team coach but always a father, felt it keenly. The roar of the crowd faded as he absorbed the weight of the moment. The match, which ended with the U.S. qualifying thanks to a heroic performance by goalkeeper Matt Freese, was a roller coaster of emotions.
USMNT Gold Cup Match Date:
After the exciting finals of the 2025 Gold Cup Quarterfinals between CONCACAF national teams, it was decided that the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras will be the teams vying for a spot in the competition’s championship match.
Mexico will play Honduras in the semifinals on Wednesday, July 2, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, at 7 p.m. PT. Guatemala, playing in the Gold Cup semifinals for the first time in 29 years, will also face the United States on Wednesday, July 2, at 4 p.m. PT at City Park in St. Louis, Missouri.
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