In case you’ve been living under a rock over the past month, allow us to break the news: The World Cup is finally here. For the world’s best competitors, the tournament represents an opportunity to display not only their talent, but also their national pride. And for American players, who find their country hosting for only the second time in World Cup history, the moment is extra special.

One of those players is Sebastian Berhalter, the 25-year-old central midfielder who, prior to the tournament, was playing for Vancouver Whitecaps. Though it’s his first World Cup, Berhalter is hardly a newbie – his father, Gregg Berhalter, was also a professional soccer player, and formerly served as the head coach of the US Men’s national team, while his mother was a soccer player at the University of North Carolina. 

With soccer quite literally in his DNA, Berhalter is one of the athletes contributing to the sport’s expansion in the US. Along with his role on the US’s World Cup team, he’s also a player ambassador for Apple, which has become the global streaming home for Major League Soccer fans, allowing the sport’s audience to continue to grow. With his first World Cup goal, a point against Turkey that led his father to tears, already down, it’s shaping up to be an exciting summer for the young athlete.  

Ahead, we caught up with Berhalter to chat pre-match rituals, following in his family’s footsteps, and more.

What’s your earliest soccer-related memory? 

Sebastian Berhalter: Probably watching my dad's games and being in the stadium crying, not even knowing what's going on. Feeling so emotional and worked up because I knew my dad was going to be mad or in a bad mood, and it made me realise how much it meant to our family.

You went pro when you were pretty young, around 20. What has it been like to spend your younger and formative years in the spotlight?

Sebastian Berhalter: I think that because my dad was always in the spotlight, I’ve known how to manage it. Seeing how he does things, I've learned a lot.  

You’ve been praised by the US head coach for your level of commitment to the game. How do you stay so motivated and dedicated, even on tougher days? 

Sebastian Berhalter: I think I just keep wanting to get better, and some days are tougher than others. I think that’s normal for anyone. But I love what I'm doing, and when you have that passion for it, I think it’s easy just to get up and keep pushing and finding ways to get better.

What are your pre-match rituals?

Sebastian Berhalter: Before we leave for the stadium, I always eat the same thing. I have two bowls of cereal for breakfast, peanut butter and jelly for lunch, and pasta marinara for the pre-game meal. And then, before we go, I’ll do the Normatec boots for 15 minutes and do some breathing.

Then once we get there, I’ll just go on the field. I’ll come back in and take an ice bath for four minutes, just flush out my legs a little bit and feel reset. After, it’s into my routines, like my stretching, taking all the gels and my caffeine. I always have a dark roast Red Eye – a black coffee with a double espresso inside – and it just gets my blood flowing, gets me fired up. 

Do you have any pre-match superstitions or anything that you always have to do before you go on the field? 

Sebastian Berhalter: I do them, but I don't call them superstitions. I’ll always take a moment of gratitude before I step on the field before the game. But to me, it’s not the biggest deal in the world if I don’t or if I miss it. 

What’s one thing that you always bring with you when packing for a tournament or an away game?

Sebastian Berhalter:  I'll always bring my foam roller. My foam roller and my lacrosse ball. 

How have you been you feeling going into this summer's tournament, and what are you most excited for? 

Sebastian Berhalter: I’m just excited for the whole country to really dive in and appreciate US soccer and everything it has. And I’m excited for everyone to put on a show that hopefully people can be proud of. Having that relationship with the fans and the people of the US is what excites us the most.