World Cup 2026: Has this USMNT finally won over a divided soccer nation?

IRVINE, Calif. — The U.S. mission entering this World Cup on home ground was to win matches and, if all things fell into place, win Group D and win a few knockout games.

The first two goals have been met.

The team carried another prime assignment into the summer soccer festival: Win over the public.

"We're doing our job — and trying to do our job as best we can — winning games," goalkeeper Matt Freese said, "And sometimes more importantly, putting on the performance to excite them, to make them proud."

In a richly diverse country with fractured rooting interests, the U.S. is not the only national team with a built-in audience. Mexico has a massive following and, when playing the U.S. in large American stadiums, El Tri has undeniably greater support.

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Most other Latin American teams also boast loyal fan bases in the U.S. — the product of changing demographics over the past half-century. It plays out at the biennial CONCACAF Gold Cup, at friendlies and certainly at the World Cup, host country notwithstanding. In 2018, for instance, thousands of Peruvian supporters descended on Russia; many were Peruvian Americans.

Alliances run deep in sports. An Alabama grad living in Oregon is positively not going to start wearing Ducks' green and yellow. But Crimson Tide offspring growing up in Oregon? Well, they just might be open to such loyalty.

And such is the complicated dynamic of soccer in the U.S., where, unlike most other countries, the national team doesn't enjoy unconditional support. Young people typically follow in the footsteps of their immigrant parents or grandparents, but by playing quality soccer and winning, the U.S. team has an opportunity this summer to sway the new generation.

"If we want to get the country behind us, if we want to get people behind us, and obviously we need to, we need to have a good tournament," said striker Ricardo Pepi, whose family is from the border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico. "We need to represent each other, represent our families, represent our country. That's a beautiful opportunity we have to get everyone behind us."

Through generations, Pepi's family supported the Mexican team.

"Growing up it was always El Tri and it was always Liga MX," he said. "That was the only thing I would watch."

As with most families with roots abroad, the U.S. was an afterthought. That began to change in Pepi's circles when he committed to the U.S. program as a teenager.

"Those close to me who supported Mexico now are putting on a U.S. jersey," he said.

In the general public, as well, "it's not like it used to be," he said. "Maybe it's because we're more competitive, but there's also athletes out there who are Mexican American representing America. I've seen that shift a little bit, and hopefully it can get even better."

Winning helps, but so does playing attractive soccer. Long known for industry, top goalkeepers and improving skillset, the Americans have entertained World Cup sellout crowds this month with six goals over two victories and a cohesive, flowing and threatening attack that has generated countless opportunities.

Like Pepi, Alex Zendejas knows both sides of it. Mexican born and Texas bred, the 28-year-old winger began his career with Major League Soccer's FC Dallas before moving to Mexico to play for Chivas, Necaxa and Club América. He represented youth national teams for both countries before committing to the U.S. in 2023.

He is one of the most popular players on a traditional powerhouse club in Liga MX, but at the World Cup, he carries the flag for American soccer.

"A bunch of Mexican fans that follow me in Club America are hoping I get some minutes, so they're going to be watching the game," said Zendejas, who has a good chance of playing in the Group D finale Thursday against Türkiye at SoFi Stadium. "I hope they realize how good the team is playing and they see the amazing players they should be rooting for. Hopefully it turns out to be a whole positive thing for them."

The effort to win over fans with other allegiances, particularly Mexican supporters, has long vexed U.S. officials. When this World Cup cycle began 3 ½ years ago, then coach Gregg Berhalter spoke on the matter.