Former President Donald Trump called the US men’s national soccer team to wish them luck before their first match of the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay. In a video released by the team, Trump praised head coach Mauricio Pochettino, calling him “fantastic.” He expressed optimism about the team’s chances of winning the tournament, stating they have “a really good chance of going all the way.” Despite his historically lukewarm interest in soccer, Trump indicated he plans to attend some matches during the competition. The United States is co-hosting the expanded 48-team World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, thirty-two years after hosting the tournament alone in 1994. While the US women’s team has achieved significant success, winning four World Cups, the men’s team has historically underperformed on the global stage and hopes to generate greater national interest.