Trump Calls 26-Man USMNT Before World Cup Opener Against Paraguay

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 12

Thursday’s call from President Donald Trump reached the U.S. men’s team hours before its first World Cup match, with the White House saying he wanted to send a message of support.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, took the call in front of the squad and told Trump he was standing with “26 champions” ready to “run through a wall.”
Mauricio Pochettino thanked Trump for the backing after the president praised him as a “fantastic coach” and said the U.S. had “a real good chance of going all the way.”
The USMNT opens its 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay at 9 p.m. ET, with the call landing amid broader debate over politics, ticket prices and the tournament’s U.S. staging.