Tim Howard Reflects on World Cup Journey
This year’s World Cup feels particularly special for Tim Howard. The former goaltender for the U.S. men’s national team has come a long way from his upbringing in central New Jersey, and now he will be hosting the finals just about 55 miles from where he spent his childhood.
Upon learning that the finals would be held, Howard immediately knew it had to take place in the New York and New Jersey area. “I’ve heard great things about Dallas—it’s a nice city—but in my opinion, the World Cup finals should be here,” he remarked in a recent interview.
At 47, Howard has never actually been to a World Cup final. His team never made it, and interestingly, no American team has ever won the tournament. He admits he doesn’t carry high expectations for this year’s competition. Yet, he also believes there are significant goals for the current U.S. team to achieve to avoid being seen as a failure.
Howard stated, “I think we can win in our group, and we have to focus on that first.” The U.S. is positioned as the top-ranked team in a group that includes Australia, Paraguay, and Türkiye.
He went on to outline a strategy: “If we win our group and finish atop the standings, we can face a weaker team in the round of 32. Ideally, we should be better than whoever we might encounter in the finals.” Still, he acknowledges the challenges ahead. “On paper, it sounds easy, but a lot has to align correctly. The talent is there, but can they all bring their A-game together?”
As a lifelong athlete, Howard is also keen on the importance of maintaining clean gear and has partnered with Lysol for this World Cup. “I know how sweaty practice can get, and Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is my go-to. It eliminates 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria,” he noted.
Even if things don’t pan out for the U.S. team, he remains optimistic about the future. “If the men’s national team struggles in this tournament, it won’t set soccer back here. There’s too much support, and people would only become more determined to succeed,” he said.
