Seth Jahn says US men’s national team is ‘in a unique position’ ahead of FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup begins today, with former US Soccer Federation Athletes’ Council member Seth Jahn speaking about the tournament. Jahn emphasizes the American team’s home field advantage and elite European talent, predicting a successful run. It highlights the unique fan enthusiasm and early support of the American Outlaws, creating a powerful atmosphere for the games.
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For the first time in 32 years, the United States men’s soccer team will play a World Cup match at home on Friday night.
The sport’s popularity in the U.S. changed dramatically after the 1994 World Cup, due in large part to the Stars and Stripes reaching the knockout round for the first time since 1934. It could be déjà vu this year (the New York Knicks were in the NBA Finals the last time the U.S. hosted), as this year’s team is probably the best in recent memory.
Now, team legends Landon Donovan and Tim Howard don’t go so far as to say they’ll win it all, but they certainly don’t rule out a “magical summer.”
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U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan celebrates with forward Jozy Altidore and goalkeeper Tim Howard after their 1-0 victory in the Group C first-round match at the 2010 World Cup on June 23 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane, South Africa. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP)
“I’m not sure they’re capable of winning it. That’s probably reserved for about five teams in the world. But I do think they can have a magical summer where they go out running and have magical moments, late goals, someone becomes the team favorite and gets the attention of the media and the fans,” Howard recently told Pak Gazette Digital.
“Of course, having a deep run will help the momentum, particularly because it’s at home and more people will be watching it simply because it’s in America.”
Both Howard and Donovan agreed that winning the group is the minimum, and then the knockout game can get interesting.
“That game against Senegal (a 3-2 US victory on May 31) was what could be a round of 32 game, maybe even a round of 16 game. There were a lot of changes, it was hot, both teams haven’t been together for a long time yet, so I’m not putting too much weight on the result,” said a cautiously optimistic Donovan. “I’m just saying that’s the type of opponent and the type of game you can have. We can definitely win that game. And I would say we’re favorites in games like that. Or at home, if our team is playing well…
American soccer icon Landon Donovan helps promote excitement for a major international soccer tournament during an event at Raising Cane’s flagship location in Inglewood on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) ((Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images))
LANDON DONOVAN REMEMBERS LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT AT WORLD CUP AMID PLAYERS’ ‘RESPONSIBILITY’ FOR THE GROWTH OF THE GAME IN THE US.
“Then you get to the round of 16, and that’s where you find Belgium, or Portugal, or someone like that. And the challenge is, as we saw a month and a half ago when they played Belgium and Portugal, and they fought a lot. If the spirit and the effort are what they were against Senegal, we can beat those teams too. We won’t be favorites, but we can beat those teams, without a doubt.”
Howard said that if the United States wants to reach the quarterfinals, they will have to beat a “bully” in the round of 16.
“That’s easy on paper. A lot has to happen,” Howard warned.
But both former stars believe it’s possible.
“I think this is a really talented team. Can they come together and play their best football at the same time? We’ll see. But I think they have the potential to do that,” Howard said.
United States goalkeeper Tim Howard plays during a match against Azerbaijan at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, on May 27, 2014. (Michael Burns/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
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Donovan, however, took a small step forward.
“They are capable of doing it. I hope to have a deep run in the tournament. I’m doing it.”
