President Donald Trump called the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team on Thursday night to wish them luck in the World Cup [1].
The gesture serves as a high-profile morale boost for the national squad as they begin their campaign in a tournament hosted on home soil. By offering public support, the president is aligning the administration with the team's success during a period of intense national sporting interest.
During the call, which took place on June 12, 2026 [1], Trump spoke with the coach and players at their training camp. The president expressed confidence in the team's ability to advance through the tournament bracket [2].
"You can go all the way," Trump said [1].
The call occurred less than 24 hours before the team's first game of the tournament. The U.S. is scheduled to face Paraguay on June 13, 2026 [2].
The opening match will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California [3]. The president's words were later shared in a video posted to social media to signal his support for the athletes [2].
Trump's outreach follows a tradition of presidential encouragement for national teams during major international competitions. The U.S. team enters the match against Paraguay with significant expectations as the host nation, a factor that often increases the pressure on players during the group stage.
“"You can go all the way," Trump said.”
The president's decision to personally contact the USMNT underscores the cultural and political significance of the 2026 World Cup. By framing the team's potential as being able to "go all the way," the administration is leveraging the national optimism surrounding the tournament to foster a sense of unity and victory, regardless of the team's historical performance in previous iterations of the event.
