NEW YORK (AP) — For U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, hosting the 2026 World Cup finals in New Jersey is an added incentive.
Berhalter grew up not far from MetLife Stadium, the venue for the championship game of the expanded 104-game tournament involving 48 countries.
“Even if I didn't have the motivation to reach the final yet, playing in a World Cup final 15 minutes away from where I grew up gives me a little bit more motivation now,” Berhalter said in an interview. “There is,” he said. The Associated Press reported on Monday. “It would really be a dream come true…We really want to make our country proud.”
FIFA awarded the home of the NFL's New York Jets and Giants a spot in the 2010 NFL finals on July 19. Mexico and Canada will each host 13 games, capping off the first tournament to span three countries.
The U.S. team will train for the World Cup at the National Training Center outside Atlanta, and will play its opening game on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Sticking to the same time zone, the U.S. team will play at the Lumen in Seattle seven days later. They will compete at SoFi on June 25th and finish the group stage.
“I don't think we were wrong,” Berhalter said. “We will also enhance home support.”
The United States has only advanced to the quarterfinals once since reaching the semifinals of the first World Cup in 1930. It happened in 2002, when Berhalter was part of the team that lost 1-0 to Germany in South Korea.
The advantage of playing at home with key players still in their mid-20s, led by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, is appealing to Berhalter, who led the United States to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. In Qatar.
There, Morocco made an impressive run to the semi-finals, becoming the first African team to reach that stage in the tournament. Coach Berhalter wants his team to aim high.
“If you think about Morocco before the last World Cup, anything could happen, right? If we get to the semi-finals, we're one game away from the final,” Berhalter said. “The diversity of our team is very American. And that's the beauty of our group…I hope Americans see themselves in our team.” , they can watch us play and relate to our group.”
The United States will not participate in the World Cup qualifiers as the host nation. The team will be busy this year with two competitions being held at home: the CONCACAF Nations League and Copa America.
They are the defending champions of the CONCACAF competition and will face Jamaica in the semifinals on March 21st. Mexico and Panama will face off in the other semifinal match. They will face Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay in the group stage of the Copa America.
Manager Berhalter confirmed that defender Sergiño Dest will be included in the Nations League squad despite being suspended for the game against Jamaica.
“I don't know if this group will continue to grow, but we need World Cup qualifying now,” Berhalter said. “The important thing is how to beat the top teams in international soccer.''
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