Nearly half of the players on the USMNT have dual nationality, yet “they all play with the U.S. flag stitched over their hearts,” according to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. TIMES. Six of the 26 players are foreign-born, with five others born to immigrant parents and two others with immigrant grandparents or great-grandparents. Baxter: “What could be more American than that?” USMNT captain and D Tim Ream said, “It’s a true representation of what America is. It’s a melting pot of, of people, of personalities, of characters.” Baxter wrote it “would be hard for the U.S. soccer team to more closely resemble the architects who founded the country, nor the vision those architects had for their creation.” Eight of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and eight of the 55 framers of the Constitution were immigrants. That is “about the same percentage of immigrants on this summer’s World Cup roster.” Another 20 of the Founding Fathers were the sons of immigrants; again, the “same percentage as the national team” (L.A. TIMES, 7/4).
CREATING CULTURE: In Chicago, Steve Greenberg wrote the U.S. squad “might as well be known as Team Small World” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/5). In S.F., Ann Killion wrote USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino is “someone looking from the outside” who “recognizes what is different and possible about America.” Pochettino has “changed the team culture, gotten his band of young men to believe and harnessed the energy of a disparate and divided country” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/5).
DEFYING THE ODDS: In N.Y., Peter Sblendorio noted a win on Monday night against Belgium would send the USMNT to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. That would make this tournament, taking place on American soil, a “star-spangled success” for the U.S. -- with “room for even more” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/5). In Seattle, Tim Booth wrote Seattle “has the chance to be the dateline to the most significant men’s match in U.S. soccer history” in a venue that has “seen its share of prime-time moments etched into the local and national sports landscape.” The winner will earn a trip back down the West Coast for a quarterfinal matchup against either Spain or Portugal on Friday (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/5). In Seattle, Jude & Booth noted before the start of the Mariners-Blue Jays game Friday evening at T-Mobile Park, “Pochettino threw a first pitch to Mariners manager Dan Wilson for a strike” (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/3).
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE: THE ATHLETIC’s Paul Tenorio wrote there “has to be belief that American soccer can compete in order for it to compete. But that buy-in has to actually be fortified by something tangible.” A win on Monday “propels the U.S. to that stage. It goes beyond the normal expectation.” It is, “of course, the last major step for the sport in this country” (THE ATHLETIC, 7/5). In Colorado Springs, Mark Kiszla wrote on a soccer stage dominated by Argentina F Lionel Messi, France F Kylian Mbappe and England F Harry Kane, USMNT F Christian Pulisic “has yet to step out of the shadows.” Here is “his chance to deliver in full on the hype” (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 7/4).
