Having the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey is extra motivation for Gregg Berhalter

For U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, having the 2026 World Cup final played in New Jersey adds another layer of incentive. Berhalter grew up not far from MetLife Stadium, the venue that will host the championship match of the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament. “If there wasn’t motivation already to try to get to the final, there’s a little bit of extra motivation now to be playing, potentially 15 minutes away from where I grew up, in a World Cup final,” Berhalter said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday.