Berhalter Stays Strong

After a Strong World Cup and Move to England, the Midfielder Continues His Form into the Cycle

Sebastian Berhalter has gone from an afterthought to one of America's most influential players this international window.

The 25-year-old midfielder scored and assisted in the 4-1 win over Peru, then did it again in Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Chile, becoming only the second player in USMNT history to score and assist in consecutive matches. Landon Donovan is the other. Berhalter has had a hand in half of the eight goals the U.S. has scored in this camp.

Against Chile, he put the Americans ahead in the 37th minute, finishing at the near post after Sergiño Dest’s cross and a clever stepover from Julian Hall. He later whipped in the corner that Chris Richards headed home for the winner, the third of Richards’ four international goals Berhalter has set up.

It is a long way from where he stood at the start of 2025, when he had no senior caps. He debuted that June against Switzerland, went on to play in the Gold Cup, and has since collected 20 caps and four goals. At the World Cup, he came off the bench in the round-of-16 loss to Belgium, unleashing a shot that just missed and waving up the crowd in Seattle, and he finished the tournament with two goal contributions—both against Turkiye.

After the World Cup, he left the Vancouver Whitecaps for Middlesbrough, where he has two goals and two assists as the club sits third in the Championship. Mauricio Pochettino has noticed. “To have a player like him is priceless,” the coach said, praising his versatility and example for newcomers. Berhalter deflected the credit. “I think it’s more the team,” he said. “For me, it’s about helping the younger guys, and then also just being myself.”

Mathis Makes History

Teenage Winger Becomes the Youngest USMNT Goalscorer with Late Goal Against Chile

Mathis Albert needed less than four days to leave his mark on the U.S. Men’s National Team.

The Borussia Dortmund winger, just 17 years old, scored in stoppage time Tuesday night in St. Louis to seal a 4-2 win over Chile, becoming the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history at 17 years and 131 days. He broke Christian Pulisic's record.

The goal came after Chris Richards had restored the U.S. lead, with Albert crashing toward goal and tapping the ball home off the underside of the crossbar. By his own account, the significance didn’t register right away. “I didn’t even know until I went in the locker room, but it’s really good,” he said. “I’m happy to score, being the youngest ever.”

It capped a quick introduction to the senior team. Albert earned his first call-up from Mauricio Pochettino this month and debuted on Sept. 26 against Peru, coming off the bench and quickly drawing a penalty that Malik Tillman converted.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Albert has a French father and an American mother of German descent, which gives him citizenship in both countries. He came up through the LA Galaxy academy, drawing interest from Dutch and French clubs, before moving to Dortmund in 2024.

His rise has been rapid. At 16, he was the youngest player at the 2025 Club World Cup, though he didn't play. In April, he became the youngest American to play in the Bundesliga, coming on late in a win over Freiburg and surpassing the mark set by Gio Reyna.

Albert had also moved through the U.S. youth ranks, from the under-15s through the under-17s, and played at the U-17 World Cup in November 2025.

Now, with the Mexico match looming Saturday, he has a record and a growing case for more minutes.

Young Americans Earn Another Friendly Victory

The USMNT Earned a Second Friendly Win, This Time After Trailing in the Second Half

The U.S. men’s national team overcame two deficits Tuesday night to beat Chile 4-2 in a friendly at Energizer Park in St. Louis, behind a young, sometimes shaky lineup.

Sebastian Berhalter gave the Americans a 37th-minute lead, finishing a Sergiño Dest cross after Julian Hall’s clever dummy opened space. The U.S. had been living dangerously, with Chile hitting the woodwork twice, and the visitors leveled in first-half stoppage time. Diego Ulloa pounced on a scramble after goalkeeper Chris Brady failed to clear a corner.

Maximiliano Gutiérrez put Chile ahead in the 49th minute, cutting in from the left to beat Brian Schwake, who had replaced Brady at halftime and was making his senior debut.

The response was immediate. Hall rose to head in a Gio Reyna cross in the 51st minute, becoming the youngest player to score in each of his first two USMNT appearances. Chris Richards, one of several World Cup veterans who changed the tone after coming on in the second half, powered home a Berhalter corner in the 72nd minute for a 3-2 lead. Mathis Albert added a stoppage-time goal to seal the win.

“The resilience and everything was fantastic,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said.

Pochettino fielded his youngest lineup yet, and six players made their first career starts: Brady, Hall, Adri Mehmeti, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines and Frankie Westfield. Antonee Robinson wore the captain’s armband for the first time, as St. Louis native Tim Ream was honored after announcing his retirement.

The match ended in a benches-clearing scuffle after Chile’s Leandro Hernández swiped at the ball while Schwake held it. Richards and Hernández were each booked.

“If you mess with family, this is what happens,” Richards said.

The U.S. next faces rival Mexico in Arizona on Saturday.