Joe Scully’s World Cup Journey

Joe Scully, a Long Island native, is now competing in his second World Cup with Team USA. As the Bundesliga star returns home, his family expresses how much they’ll miss him while he plays on this grand stage.

Brothers Drew and Anna Scully eagerly anticipate cheering for Joe and the rest of the team. They’ve even traveled to see him play with Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany.

“Whenever we watch his matches, he always finds us in the stands. He looks up and waves,” Drew Scully, 26, shared about the moments they’ve had while supporting Joe.

“He’s always got that smile. I think he’s more focused now, which is exciting to see,” he added.

Unfortunately, the Lake Grove siblings weren’t able to attend Joe’s debut for the United States at the 2022 World Cup due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. But they’re more than ready to make up for that missed opportunity now that the games are happening in the U.S.

Anna, 21, has played a role in every game, including that memorable debut when the U.S. defeated Australia 2-0 in Seattle. Meanwhile, Drew is set to be in Los Angeles for the upcoming game against Tolkier.

With the U.S. progressing to the final tournament, the family looks forward to the round of 32.

“We’ve always talked about the World Cup while playing soccer together,” Drew reminisced, adding that Joe’s inclusion in the team feels surreal for the whole family. Joe has made history by being the youngest non-German player to hit 150 appearances in the Bundesliga.

Joe took a big leap at 18, leaving his team during the pandemic to chase his dreams in Germany. This meant being far from his family, who had planned to assist him during the transition.

“It was tough for him at first, but he adapted quickly. I still can’t believe how he managed it,” remarked their mother, Margaret, who also coached him as a child.

“He reassured us he was okay, saying, ‘I’m where I’m supposed to be, I’m focused.’”

The Scully family made it a tradition to visit Joe in Europe four times a year.

“His face lights up when I tell him I’m coming to Germany,” Drew said, reflecting on those heartwarming moments. “Just being together means everything.”

This World Cup holds extra significance for the Scullys because they’ve faced challenges living apart in recent years.

The family enjoyed a little time together when Joe returned home for the Team USA roster announcement in Manhattan last month.

“We had a blast. Everyone was happy. My mom had balloons and we had a nice dinner together,” Joe reminisced.

Afterwards, they played games, enjoyed a hearty breakfast, and laughed about Joe’s quirky pregame ritual of listening to Justin Bieber.

“I talk to him nearly every day, and he’s feeling great—confident and excited,” Drew said about his “best friend,” who is also known for his playful spirit.

As the eldest brother, Joe gathered his friends and family at home before heading to Los Angeles.

Drew hosted a watch party at Napper Tandy’s in Smithtown, where posters of Joe’s face celebrated the team’s 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

“We love to tease each other; it adds to the fun,” Drew mentioned. Now, as a part of Team USA himself, they’ve established deeper connections beyond just family calls and emails, even getting into games like Call of Duty together.

“Playing together is a blast, and we love to joke around,” Drew said, recalling how quickly they bonded even while getting to know each other.

It’s these tiny moments that ground the big achievements in a delightful way.

“Everything has been so much fun,” he concluded. “I’ve always been his big brother, and he knows it.”