Gio Reyna, once considered a generational talent for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT), is staging a crucial career comeback at Borussia Mönchengladbach, fueled by the ambition to play in the 2026 World Cup on home soil. After a tumultuous 2022 World Cup marked by controversy and persistent injuries, the 22-year-old midfielder is embracing responsibility, reflecting on past disputes, and diligently working to regain his form and secure a spot under USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter.
Mönchengladbach, Germany — The weight of expectation and past controversies has long shadowed Gio Reyna’s promising career. As a vibrant young star entering the 2022 World Cup, his journey was quickly derailed by disputes over training effort and a highly publicized family conflict involving then-U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter. Now, with the 2026 World Cup looming on American soil, Reyna sees it as a powerful “guiding light” to revive a career often stalled by injuries.
Speaking to The Associated Press at his new club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, the attacking midfielder expressed a nuanced perspective on the 2022 incident. He acknowledges that he would handle certain aspects differently now, attributing his actions to frustration. However, he also maintains that the dispute was not “completely” his or his family’s fault.
“I do obviously think about (the World Cup) pretty often as it’s somewhere where I need and want to be,” Reyna stated. “But I try to focus daily here, stay present here, work here every day, and hopefully believe everything will fall into place.” This sentiment resonates with fans who are eager to see the prodigy fulfill his immense potential.
The Shadow of Qatar 2022
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar proved to be a pivotal, albeit difficult, moment for Gio Reyna. He featured only twice, coming off the bench. Following the tournament, then-U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter disclosed that an unnamed player, later identified as Reyna, was nearly sent home due to a perceived lack of effort in training. This revelation ignited a firestorm of controversy within the USMNT community.
The situation escalated further when Reyna’s parents, Claudio and Danielle Reyna—both former national team players themselves—intervened. They lobbied the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) for more playing time for their son. Additionally, they contacted the USSF regarding a three-decades-old domestic violence allegation involving Gregg Berhalter and his wife, Danielle’s former college roommate. This series of events exposed deep-seated tensions within the national team’s inner circle, as reported by outlets like ESPN.
When asked about the incident, Reyna told the AP, “Maybe in certain ways, but I’m not just going to sort of sit here and take all the blame for something that was made out to be completely my fault, which I believe it wasn’t, and also my family’s, too.” He clarified that his frustrations “stemmed from” unhappiness with his limited game time. “At the end of the day, I was just upset that, you know, I wasn’t really playing. I was playing at Dortmund. I thought that I wanted to play at the World Cup and ultimately in the end, I didn’t do that, and that’s really what it stemmed from,” he explained.
For many fans, the episode highlighted the intense pressure young players face and the delicate balance between family involvement and professional responsibility. Reyna now prefers to leave the past behind: “It’s so far removed now and so far in the past, I don’t even really want to talk about it any more.”
The Long Road Back to the National Team
Borussia Mönchengladbach represents a fresh start for Gio Reyna. He hopes this move will be the “springboard back to the national team.” A welcome bonus has been reuniting with his friend and USMNT teammate, Joe Scally, describing it as “the cherry on top.”
Reyna’s journey has been consistently hampered by a litany of muscle injuries, preventing him from building consistent momentum. His final three years at Dortmund saw him primarily utilized as an impact substitute, followed by a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, and then extensive bench time last season. The last time he played a full 90 minutes in a league match was in March 2022, and he has only played once for the U.S. since the 2024 Copa América.
Despite his recent challenges, Reyna’s determination is clear. He has been limited to playing in four of eight Bundesliga games at Gladbach so far this season due to fitness issues. However, even coming off the bench is “still better than what I was doing last season most of the time,” he noted. With only four planned U.S. friendlies before the crucial pre-World Cup camp, his performances with Gladbach are paramount.
Impressing the USMNT Coaching Staff
Reyna is acutely aware that his path back to the USMNT depends on consistent play and performance. The national team coaching staff, led by Gregg Berhalter, has a clear message for players seeking a spot in the upcoming tournaments and the 2026 World Cup.
“I think (the coach) was very clear with saying, ‘You need to play, perform and then if you do that then you have a good chance to come in again,’ ” Reyna shared. “It’s all on me now.” This directly aligns with the expectations placed on all potential national team players by Gregg Berhalter, who was reappointed as the USMNT coach in June 2023, as confirmed by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
While Dortmund is renowned for developing young talent, Reyna now wonders if he should have sought a move “a little bit earlier” for more game time. “I had a good feeling when I made the decision to stay there. It didn’t work out,” he reflected. This honesty highlights the tough decisions young players face in their careers.
Learning from Setbacks: The Mental and Physical Battle
Over the last five years, Gio Reyna has endured at least eight distinct injuries, predominantly soft tissue and muscle problems, along with one leg fracture. These recurring issues have significantly impacted his playing time, including his current role with Bundesliga club Gladbach.
Through these trials, Reyna emphasizes a crucial lesson: “I’ve learned a lot about my body.” This involves a more collaborative approach to fitness work with his club’s athletic coaches and developing new strategies to cope with the immense mental strain that accompanies repeated setbacks. His insights resonate with many athletes who face similar challenges, providing a fan-centric perspective on the unseen struggles of professional sports.
Reyna shared his coping mechanism for injury recovery: “The first 24 to 48 hours are always going to suck. There’s no way round that. What I’ve learned now is, after those one or two days where (there’s) obviously a lot of pain, a lot of downtime, down energy, you just have to get on with it. You have to kick on, you have to really just attack the rehab.”
As he strives to realize his full potential, Reyna is taking on greater responsibility both on and off the field. This commitment is vital for his growth and for convincing the national team selectors he is ready for a significant role. The stakes are incredibly high with the 2026 World Cup on home soil, offering a unique opportunity for players to cement their legacy.
“I would love to look back in the future and say that it was a pivotal year, few years here,” he concluded. “But talking is not really the way. You have to turn the talking into action.” For Gio Reyna and the USMNT faithful, the coming months will be a testament to that philosophy.
