Reyna and Berhalter go from wonderkids to elder statesmen as the US roster gets younger by the day

Being 25 years old and getting called a "veteran" sounds strange, but that's the reality inside the US men's national team these days. Sebastian Berhalter and Giovanni Reyna, two midfielders who not long ago were the team's young prospects, now find themselves on the other side of the mirror: they're the ones who have to guide the newcomers.

Reyna himself, just 23 years old, summed it up with a candor that's almost funny: feeling like the "old guy" of the group hits him strangely.

It makes me feel a little old, but it's cool to have so many of them here.Giovanni Reyna

And he's not exaggerating. When head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced his 28-man roster last Thursday, the squad's average age came out to just 22 years and nine months. That number dropped even further the next day, when it was confirmed that forward Damion Downs, 22, of St. Louis City, would replace the injured Ricardo Pepi (23). To round out the generational picture, the team still carries 13 players with no previous senior national team experience, a group that will now look to Reyna and Berhalter (the latter 25) as the reference points with World Cup experience under their belts.

Reyna was clear about his role at this stage: it's not just about playing anymore, it's about mentoring.

Eager to get to know them better on and off the field. So yeah, I'm just here to help them, show them what we've built and what we're looking to continue building. And obviously a lot of them are very, very talented, or all of them are. So we're here to help them be themselves and enjoy their time with the team.Giovanni Reyna

Focus on the opponents, not the roster

With so much young talent generating headlines, it was only natural that the conversation centered on the new faces. But Berhalter preferred to steer away from that topic and put the focus where it belongs: the upcoming matches. The team will face Peru in Orlando on September 26, followed by matchups against Chile, Mexico and Canada.

I think there's obviously been a lot of noise around maybe the roster that got called in, but I think our focus now should shift quickly to Peru and then obviously the games after that, because they're going to be a good test for us.Sebastian Berhalter

Meanwhile, both players are going through their own adjustment periods in European soccer. Berhalter joined Middlesbrough in the English Championship, his first experience outside the United States. The intensity caught him off guard: "How much they love soccer there, and the intensity is incredible," he said, adding that in a small city "they live it, breathe it and eat it," with matches every few days and a grueling schedule that, he admitted, "is what you want as a soccer player."

The transition has been easier because he has three fellow Americans at Middlesbrough: defender Max Arfsten and midfielders Aidan Morris and Rokas Pukstas. According to Berhalter, that gives him almost a "fake European experience," he joked, since he ends up spending his days with friends just like back home. The club's goal, he said, is clear: fight for promotion before the year is out.

Reyna, on the other hand, has been in Europe since 2019, when he made the jump to Borussia Dortmund. Now, in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg, he's found something he'd been chasing for a while: consistent playing time. He started his team's last four matches, a stark contrast to the difficult seasons he went through before.

It was frustrating at times over the last few years just trying to be on the field, whether because of injuries or the situation. But talking with the club and the coach, I knew right away I wanted to take that step, it gave me a great feeling. The soccer suits me well, the club's project suits me well too.Giovanni Reyna

On the level of the French league, Reyna didn't hide his surprise: "The talent and the teams I've played against so far have been very, very impressive," he said, though he acknowledged he's still adjusting to his teammates, his coach, and even everyday life off the field.