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A month from now, the world’s attention will shine on the 2026 FIFA World Cup as teams from all over will converge on the United States, Mexico and Canada to begin the long-awaited tournament on the pitch.
But while the World Cup brings positivity and friendly competition to billions around the world, real-life problems still exist.
One such situation is in the Middle East, where the United States and Iran, which also qualified for the World Cup, remain in open conflict. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said Iran will “certainly” play in the World Cup despite the conflict.
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Tyler Adams of the United States moves with the ball during a match against Costa Rica at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 29, 2025. (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Tyler Adams, midfielder and captain of the United States men’s national team, did not comment directly on the Middle East conflict, but he knows that despite the “crazy” things happening around the world, soccer and the World Cup can be a unifying moment for everyone.
“Football brings everyone together no matter the situation,” he told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview, while highlighting his partnership and work with Scotts. “That’s something I leaned towards when I wanted to play this sport. The diversity that there is in it. That whatever country you go to, there are football fields no matter where you are in the world. It’s that sport that you find everywhere.
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“I think this event will really bring people together, and I really hope it brings the American people together as well.”
Adams’ first World Cup came in 2022, when he represented the United States alongside his teammates in a highly controversial host venue: Qatar. From criticism of the country’s human rights violations to the deaths of migrant workers during stadium construction, many accused Qatar of whitewashing sports throughout the tournament.
But Adams believes that four years later, no matter what is happening in the world, the World Cup can provide positivity, camaraderie and unity.
Tyler Adams #4 of the United States advances the ball during a match against Japan at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, on September 9, 2025. (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
“I think the times in the world are obviously crazy right now. When there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world, there’s nothing like a World Cup where people can close their eyes for a second and really experience something special,” he said. “So again, I think the success we have can really make a difference in how the sport grows in our country and I hope we can do that.”
While the United States has never won a World Cup, Adams knows this group is special, especially after the experience they had in 2022. They were green in Qatar, but now, with a home crowd behind them, Adams is confident that his group has what it takes to not only get out of Group D, but also to fight for the trophy.
“I think the balance we have within our team is very good,” he said. “A lot of these guys I grew up with for so long. They’re some of my closest friends, guys I talk to every day. So, at the very least, we’ll be excited to hang out together, have the locker room banter that we have with each other and really enjoy the whole process.”
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The United States will begin its group stage in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium against Paraguay on June 12. Meanwhile, Iran will play at the same host venue three days later.
“We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be peaceful,” Infantino said during CNBC’s Invest in America Forum last month in Washington, D.C. on the Middle East conflict. “That would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”
Tyler Adams of the United States greets fans after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 round of 16 match against Netherlands at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on December 3, 2022. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
GROWING THE GAME WITH SCOTTS
Speaking of growing the game, Scotts, North America’s leading lawn care brand, partnered with Adams with its “Keep It Real” initiative, which aims to expand access to youth sports and green spaces, funding more than $432,000 while partnering with “Every Kid Sports” to help more than 2,000 kids in 48 states.
As part of the effort, Scotts and Adams, who are highlighting the value of natural grass in terms of safer play, helped restore natural grass fields where the next generation can play the game. One of them was even the countryside of his hometown.
“When they came to me with this idea and this initiative, it was pretty simple. I think one of the most important things I need to do now as a professional athlete is give back to my community. That being said, I’m giving back to my community with the partnership where we had a field day last summer and we’re restoring the field I played on as a kid. It was great to come home and see that a brand I’m working with supports the ideas that I have and I give back to that community. Really, very grateful for that and the partnership. We’re starting to do really good things.
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