U.S. Men’s National Team Receives Presidential Support

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – On Thursday night, the U.S. men’s national soccer team got a boost from the president just a day before their World Cup match against Paraguay.

A video shared by the team’s official account on social media features Andrew Giuliani, the White House World Cup liaison, receiving a call from President Trump. It’s a brief but encouraging moment before what could be a historic game for the team.

While only manager Mauricio Pochettino and captain Tim Ream appear in the clip, Giuliani noted that all 26 players were present when he passed the phone to Pochettino.

“I just wanted to say you’re an amazing guy and a fantastic coach,” Trump commented, perhaps with a hint of earnestness. “I admire your achievements, and I know your players are great. You have a real shot at this, and I wish you the best.”

Pochettino responded, “Mr. President, I truly appreciate your support. We will strive to make you and everyone in this country proud.”

The video wraps up rather abruptly before their chat concludes.

Though President Trump won’t attend the game on Friday, notable figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña are set to be in the audience at SoFi Stadium, which has been temporarily rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for this World Cup.

President Trump, while gaining a lot of attention related to the World Cup, isn’t the first to encourage the national football team. For instance, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has frequently visited the Oval Office. He even made appearances during important diplomatic discussions, such as negotiations for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Former President Joe Biden reached out in a similar vein in 2022, video-calling then-coach Gregg Berhalter and nudging the team to “surprise everyone.”

Back in 2014, President Barack Obama called players Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard post-tournament to congratulate them, expressing pride in their efforts after they exited in the round of 16 against Belgium.

Interestingly, Bill Clinton, though out of office, shown his support in 2010 by visiting South Africa during the tournament, meeting Nelson Mandela, and even sharing his enthusiasm for the now-iconic vuvuzela, which became a defining sound of that World Cup.