President Donald Trump spoke by phone with the United States men’s national team on Thursday, offering his support as the squad prepares for its 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium.
The two-minute call, relayed in part through White House World Cup Task Force executive Andrew Giuliani, reached head coach Mauricio Pochettino and captain Tim Ream. Trump told the players they have a strong chance of advancing deep into the tournament on home soil. The United States is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
Will Donald Trump attend USA's FIFA World Cup opener vs Paraguay?
Despite the high-profile nature of the event and the team’s status as favorites in their group, Trump will not attend the opening match in person, as per a report in The Athletic. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will instead attend the game. He will be accompanied by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, the aforementioned source further stated.
According to a video posted by the USA football team, the White House’s World Cup Task Force CEO Andrew Giuliani was heard talking to the football team coach Pochettino. He was surrounded by captain Tim Ream. Additionally, all 26 members of the team were present in the room.
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