The USMNT’s game against Australia on Friday drew a wide range of notable names to Seattle Stadium. The official U.S. delegation consisted of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Energy Secretary Chris Wright and White House FIFA World Cup Task Force leader Andrew Giuliani. MLS Commissioner Don Garber was in attendance. Among celebrities, Ciara took part in the coin toss and attended the game with husband and new NFL Today co-host Russell Wilson; USWNT star Trinity Rodman brought out the match ball; former NFLer Marshawn Lynch served as a sideline photographer and watched part of the game from a suite with former Seahawks teammate Cliff Avril; Paris Hilton returned for the second game; the NBA was represented by two Seattle natives: Sacramento Kings G Zach LaVine and Orlando Magic F Paolo Banchero; former U.S. Soccer stars Alex Morgan and Kasey Keller and two-time World Cup winner Jill Ellis shared a suite (SBJ).
Among those rooting on the Aussies: Golf legend Greg Norman, celebrity chef Curtis Stone, Australia’s ambassador to the U.S. Greg Moriarty with embassy communications director Ian Gerard, former Football Australia boss and now Venues NSW chairman David Gallop, Tasmanian Labor MP Dean Winter, AFL media guru Craig Hutchison hanging out with Hawthorn premiership winner Campbell Brown. Among politicians, Bennelong’s Jerome Laxale was “the most senior MP in attendance,” along with health spokeswoman Anne Ruston and former sports minister Richard Colbeck (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 6/19).
