Gio Reyna was once hailed as the golden future of American soccer. By the time the 2022 FIFA World Cup ended in Qatar, however, his name had become synonymous with one of the most explosive off-field controversies in USMNT history. From training ground bust-ups to a jaw-dropping family feud involving decades-old assault allegations, the Gio Reyna controversy reshaped U.S. Soccer in ways that are still being felt today — even as Reyna fights for redemption on home soil at the 2026 World Cup.
Who Is Gio Reyna?
Giovanni “Gio” Reyna was born on November 13, 2002, in Bedford, New York, into an elite soccer family. His father, Claudio Reyna, served as a former USMNT captain, while his mother, Danielle Egan Reyna, was a decorated U.S. women’s national team player. When Gio made his senior USMNT debut in 2020 at just 18 years old, he became one of the youngest Americans in two decades to feature for the senior side. His blazing talent at Borussia Dortmund made him the talk of European football, and expectations were sky-high heading into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
What Happened at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
Gio Reyna’s Minimal Playing Time
Despite arriving in Qatar as one of the USMNT’s most hyped prospects, Reyna played just 52 minutes across the entire tournament. Then-head coach Gregg Berhalter kept him mostly on the bench, and after the U.S. was eliminated in the round of 16 by the Netherlands, the fallout began quickly.
Berhalter’s Public Criticism
In December 2022, Berhalter spoke at a leadership summit hosted by The HOW Institute for Society where he described an unnamed player who had been “clearly not meeting expectations on and off the field” during the tournament. Berhalter said the player had been nearly sent home from Qatar. It didn’t take long for that player to be identified publicly as Gio Reyna. Reyna himself later confirmed this in an Instagram post, saying he was “disappointed” by the continuing coverage and called some reporting “highly fictionalized.”
The Training Ground Dispute
According to subsequent reporting and the investigation that followed, Reyna had shown a perceived lack of effort in training sessions during the tournament. Berhalter considered sending him home but ultimately decided to keep him after Reyna apologized to his teammates. Teammate Tim Ream later insisted on a podcast that no player vote was held to decide Reyna’s fate — directly contradicting some media reports — stating flatly, “There was no vote.”
The Reyna Family’s Explosive Response
Claudio and Danielle Reyna’s Actions
This is where the Gio Reyna controversy escalated far beyond typical soccer drama. Furious over how their son had been treated and publicly criticized, Claudio Reyna — who had been Berhalter’s teammate for years and was even the best man at his wedding — sent a series of text messages to USMNT sporting director Earnie Stewart. Both Claudio and Danielle Reyna then participated in an hour-long phone call with Stewart on December 11, 2022.
According to the subsequent independent investigation conducted by the law firm Alston & Bird, during that call Danielle Reyna raised a 1991 incident in which a young Berhalter had physically assaulted the woman who would later become his wife, Rosalind — who happened to be Danielle’s college roommate at UNC. The USSF, upon receiving the allegation, commissioned an immediate independent investigation.
Berhalter Goes Public
Before the investigation concluded, Berhalter released a preemptive public statement acknowledging the 1991 incident, calling his behavior “shameful.” He noted that an unnamed person had contacted U.S. Soccer saying they had information that would “take him down.” His contract with U.S. Soccer expired on December 31, 2022, leaving the program in total chaos.
Danielle Reyna’s Defense
Danielle Reyna subsequently confirmed she had shared the information with U.S. Soccer, saying she was “absolutely outraged and devastated” by Berhalter’s public comments about her son. However, she insisted she had not asked for Berhalter to be fired and denied making any threats. Claudio likewise denied any blackmail, though he acknowledged he had appealed to Stewart asking that further public comments about Gio be stopped.
The Independent Investigation: What Did It Find?
The Alston & Bird investigation produced a wide-ranging report with findings on both the Berhalters and the Reynas.
On the Berhalter Incident
The report confirmed that Berhalter had indeed kicked Rosalind during their college freshman year in 1991 in an incident he acknowledged immediately to his head coach at UNC the following day. The investigators found the allegations of blackmail by Berhalter were not substantiated — a key outcome that partially vindicated the Reyna family’s account.
On the Reyna Family
The investigation painted an unflattering picture of the Reyna family’s history with U.S. Soccer. It found that Claudio Reyna had been consistently lobbying USSF officials on his son’s behalf since at least 2016, seeking more playing time and preferential treatment. At a meeting with U.S. Soccer officials after the World Cup, Claudio reportedly said, “You guys don’t even know what we know about Gregg,” a comment investigators noted as suggesting implicit leverage. The report described the family’s campaign as an “embarrassing” pattern of interference, even as it cleared them of formal blackmail.
Berhalter’s Surprising Return
In a shocking twist, despite the scandal, Berhalter was rehired as USMNT head coach in June 2023. However, his second stint was short-lived. After a disappointing Copa America 2024 campaign on home soil, Berhalter was dismissed in July 2024.
Gio Reyna’s Career Fallout and Struggle Back
Club Career Difficulties
The controversy cast a long shadow over Reyna’s club career. He fell out of favor at Borussia Dortmund during the 2024–25 season, managing only a brief loan spell with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, where he made just 10 appearances without breaking into the starting XI. He subsequently departed Dortmund — having made 147 appearances and contributed 19 goals and 18 assists during his time there — and signed with fellow Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach in a bid to rebuild.
Gio Reyna’s Own Words
In an October 2025 interview with the Associated Press at Mönchengladbach’s stadium, Reyna addressed the 2022 fallout with measured candor. He said he would have handled certain things differently but refused to shoulder all the blame, stating the dispute was not “completely” his fault or his family’s. He also expressed that the incident had ultimately stemmed from his deep frustration at not getting playing time when he was performing well at Dortmund. However, he said he would rather not keep discussing the controversy, preferring instead to let his performances speak for him.
The Road to the 2026 World Cup
Reyna’s November 2025 Comeback
The turning point in Reyna’s rehabilitation came in November 2025. New USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino extended Reyna a lifeline, and he responded brilliantly. In a critical World Cup tuneup against Paraguay at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, Reyna scored within the opening four minutes — his first international goal in over 600 days — and then set up Folarin Balogun’s winner in a 2–1 victory. He came on to assist again in a stunning follow-up win over Uruguay. Pochettino raved about him afterward, saying Reyna was “a nightmare for Paraguay” and that he fully trusted the young midfielder.
Making the 2026 World Cup Roster
Despite playing just 137 minutes for Mönchengladbach in the first half of 2026 and failing to start a single club game since December 2024, Reyna’s November form earned him a place in Pochettino’s final 26-man 2026 World Cup squad. The inclusion was confirmed in late May 2026. Critics and some USMNT legends — including Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas — publicly questioned whether Reyna had done enough to earn his place and urged him to demonstrate accountability.
Gio Reyna’s Focus in June 2026
Speaking to reporters in June 2026, just days before the USMNT’s World Cup opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, Reyna said the 2022 controversy no longer weighs on him. His words were simple and direct: “It doesn’t matter to me anymore. I want to score a goal to help this team win.” He also faces the unique subplot of being teammates with Sebastian Berhalter — Gregg’s son — in the 2026 squad, a detail that adds yet another layer to an already remarkable story.
The HBO Documentary Controversy
The drama received a fresh burst of attention in 2026 after an HBO documentary series on the USMNT’s journey from 2022 to 2026 chose to largely gloss over the Reyna–Berhalter saga. Director Rand Getlin described the episode as “too complex” for the format, a decision that was widely criticized by media observers who noted that both Reyna and Berhalter appear in the documentary anyway — making the omission all the more conspicuous. Critics argued that the series lost a significant opportunity to tell one of the most consequential stories in modern American soccer.
Why the Gio Reyna Controversy Matters
The Gio Reyna controversy matters for several reasons that extend beyond soccer:
- It exposed the complexities of nepotism and parental interference in professional sports, even at the highest levels.
- It forced U.S. Soccer to confront decades-old institutional failures, including a domestic violence incident that had never been formally addressed.
- It raised serious questions about accountability, entitlement, and the pressure placed on young elite athletes by their families and coaches alike.
- It demonstrated the potential consequences of public feuds in a sport trying to grow its credibility on the world stage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What was the Gio Reyna controversy about? The Gio Reyna controversy began after the 2022 World Cup when coach Gregg Berhalter revealed an unnamed player — later confirmed to be Reyna — had nearly been sent home for a lack of effort in training. The Reyna family responded by flagging a 1991 domestic assault incident involving Berhalter, triggering an independent U.S. Soccer investigation.
Did Gio Reyna get kicked off the 2022 World Cup squad? No. Although Berhalter considered sending him home, Reyna stayed after apologizing to his teammates. He played only 52 minutes across the tournament.
What did the Reyna family do to Gregg Berhalter? Danielle and Claudio Reyna reported a decades-old domestic violence incident involving Berhalter to U.S. Soccer’s sporting director. The report triggered a formal independent investigation, though the investigation later found that blackmail allegations against the Reyna family were not substantiated.
Did Gio Reyna make the 2026 World Cup roster? Yes. Despite limited club minutes, Reyna was included in coach Mauricio Pochettino’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on U.S. soil.
What has Gio Reyna said about the controversy in 2026? Speaking in June 2026, Reyna said the controversy no longer matters to him and that his only focus is scoring goals to help the USMNT succeed at the World Cup on home soil.
Is Gregg Berhalter still the USMNT coach? No. Berhalter was rehired in 2023 but dismissed after a disappointing Copa America 2024 campaign. Mauricio Pochettino is now the USMNT head coach.
What do you think — can Gio Reyna finally silence his critics and deliver a defining World Cup performance on home soil in 2026? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and follow along as the story continues to unfold.