US men’s soccer captain Tyler Adams is confident this summer’s home World Cup will bring America together at a ‘crazy’ time in the world.
Adams, the Premier League star gearing up for his second World Cup with the USMNT, played at the tournament for the first time in 2022 amid a backdrop of fierce controversy surrounding host nation Qatar’s alleged human rights violations.
Now the 27-year-old is preparing to compete on home soil while conflict in the Middle East rages on, and with political tensions running high in America right now.
Yet unlike USA’s liberal Winter Olympic skiers, who angered Donald Trump after claiming they had mixed emotions about wearing the Stars and Stripes in Italy earlier this year amid immigration chaos back home, Adams has welcomed the chance to unite the country on the soccer field.
‘Soccer brings everybody together no matter the situation,’ he told Fox News Digital one month out from the USMNT’s opening game against Paraguay. ‘That’s something I gravitated towards when I wanted to play the sport. The diversity in it.
‘How whatever country you go to, there’s soccer fields no matter where you are in the world. It’s that one sport that you find everywhere.
USMNT captain Tyler Adams is confident this summer’s World Cup will bring America together
Adams’ comments are a far cry from Winter Olympics skiers like Hunter Hess (right), who angered Donald Trump by claiming they had mixed emotions about representing USA
‘I think this event is really going to bring people together, and I really hope it brings the American people together as well.’
Members of America’s freestyle skiing team were critical of their country on the eve of the Winter Olympics, taking aim at Trump’s government as protests against ICE continued to escalate at home and abroad.
Team USA aerials specialist Chris Lillis admitted he was ‘heartbroken’ by recent events back home, which included the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman, while halfpipe skier Hunter Hess said: ‘Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.’
Their remarks sparked fury amongst conservative fans, while Trump himself singled out Hess as a ‘real loser’ after he wrapped up his time at the Olympics bottom of the halfpipe leaderboard.
In contrast, Adams is only focusing on the positives of representing USA at a home World Cup over the summer.
‘I think that times in the world are obviously crazy right now,’ the Bournemouth midfielder continued. ‘When there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world, there’s nothing like a World Cup where people can close their eyes for a second and really experience something special.
‘So, again, I think that success we have can really move the needle in how the sport grows in our country and I’m hoping we can do that.’
The Premier League star is preparing for his second World Cup after debuting in Qatar in 2022
Mauricio Pochettino’s team begin their World Cup campaign against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12, before taking on Australia in Seattle, Washington, seven days later.
They conclude their group-stage matches against Türkiye in Inglewood on June 25.
‘I think the balance we have within our squad is so good,’ Adams said. ‘So many of these guys I grew up with for such a long time now. They’re some of my closest friends, guys I talk to every day.
‘So, at the bare minimum, we’re just going to be excited to hang out together, have the banter in the changing room that we have with one another, and really just enjoy the whole process.’
