Puka Nacua, the LA Rams standout wide receiver, looked upbeat and in good health while attending the Team USA World Cup matchup at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night, alongside New York Giants quarterback Jackson Dart.
During the game, a cheerful image of Nacua and Dart was displayed on the large screen. Nacua sported a vibrant shirt paired with a chunky chain and sipped Coca-Cola through glasses. Dart, in contrast, wore dark shades, a beige jacket, and his own chain.
The suite at SoFi Stadium was filled with notable figures, including mega-streamer IShowSpeed, projected 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jaden Daniels, and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
Interestingly, Goff and Nacua never played alongside each other on the Rams, since Goff was traded before Nacua joined the team in Los Angeles.
Nacua has also been reconnecting with soccer recently. As he is in a contract year, he returned to the Rams in April and has shown a reliable presence during the spring training sessions.
Fans have been supportive, cheering him on as he fully participates in offseason practices.
However, Nacua’s smiling appearance contrasts sharply with a tumultuous offseason marked by a civil lawsuit, allegations of anti-Semitic remarks, and some online controversies, including a visit to a Malibu rehab facility.
His off-field troubles began in late 2025 and unfolded into 2026. He notably faced backlash for live streaming from the locker room after a game against the Arizona Cardinals, which went against team policies.
In a separate incident, joining streamer Adin Roth on a livestream led to negative reactions after he made an anti-Semitic celebratory gesture during a game.
Things escalated in March 2026 when a woman from Los Angeles filed a civil lawsuit against Nacua, claiming he bit her multiple times and made unverified anti-Semitic comments during a New Year’s Eve party.
Prior to these allegations surfacing, Nacua checked into a Malibu rehab facility to deal with personal challenges and improve his behavior. His attorney later referred to the New Year’s Eve encounter as “horseplay” and insisted there was no malicious intent.
Jackson Dart has also made headlines of his own. The Giants quarterback, who was drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft alongside Abdul Carter, faced criticism in late May 2026 after attending a political rally where President Trump was introduced. The appearance caused a temporary rift with Carter, although the two have since reconciled.
