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For U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, having the 2026 World Cup ultimate performed in New Jersey provides one other layer of incentive.
Berhalter grew up not removed from MetLife Stadium, the venue that may host the championship match of the expanded 48-nation, 104-game match.
“If there wasn’t motivation already to attempt to get to the ultimate, there’s a little bit bit of additional motivation now to be enjoying, doubtlessly quarter-hour away from the place I grew up, in a World Cup ultimate,” Berhalter mentioned in an interview with The Related Press on Monday. “It could actually be a dream come true … We actually wish to make the nation proud.”
FIFA awarded the July 19 ultimate to the house of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants, which opened in 2010. It should cap the primary match unfold throughout three nations, with Mexico and Canada internet hosting 13 matches every.
The U.S. workforce will prepare at their nationwide coaching middle in suburban Atlanta forward of the World Cup and play their opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 12. Sticking to the identical time zone, the People play seven days later at Seattle’s Lumen Subject and end the group stage at SoFi on June 25.
“I don’t suppose we might have went flawed,” Berhalter mentioned. “We’re going to have nice dwelling help.”
Since reaching the semifinals of the primary World Cup in 1930, the U.S. has superior to the quarterfinals simply as soon as. That occurred in 2002 with Berhalter being a part of the workforce that misplaced 1-0 to Germany in South Korea.
Some great benefits of enjoying at dwelling with their core of gamers — led by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, all nonetheless of their mid-20s — are tantalizing for Berhalter, who coached the U.S. to the last-16 on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
That is the place Morocco had a stirring run to the semifinals, turning into the primary ever African workforce to succeed in that stage within the match. Berhalter desires his workforce to goal excessive.
“In case you consider Morocco earlier than the final World Cup, , something can occur, proper? You get into the semifinals, you’re one recreation away from the ultimate,” Berhalter mentioned. “The variety in our workforce is precisely what America is. And that’s the fantastic thing about our group … You hope that People see themselves in our workforce. And, after they see us play, they will establish with our group.”
As host, the U.S. will not be enjoying World Cup qualifiers. The workforce can be busy this yr with two tournaments, the CONCACAF Nations League and the Copa América, each at dwelling.
They’re the defending champions of the CONCACAF competitors, going through Jamaica within the semifinals on March 21. Mexico and Panama will play within the different semifinal recreation. On the Copa América, they may play Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay within the group stage.
Berhalter confirmed that defender Sergiño Dest can be on the roster for the Nations League regardless of being suspended for the match towards Jamaica.
“I’m unsure for this group to proceed to develop that we’d like World Cup qualifiers now,” Berhalter mentioned. “It’s about how will we beat the perfect of worldwide soccer.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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