A Thanksgiving Reflection: Gratitude for the USMNT Journey

A List of USMNT Moments That Make Me Thankful for this Roller Coaster of a Team

As we gather around the Thanksgiving table, there's plenty to be thankful for as a United States men's national team supporter, both from the storied past and the promising present.

I'm forever grateful for that magical moment in 2010 when Landon Donovan tapped in a rebound in stoppage time against Algeria, securing our advancement and marking the first time we topped a World Cup group since 1930. I was 19 years old and shared that moment with my late father—a memory etched in my brain forever.

Looking further back, the 1950 victory over England stands as one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, when Joe Gaetjens' header shocked the football world. It's a reminder that American soccer has always been capable of the improbable. Paul Caligiuri's goal against Trinidad and Tobago in 1989 ended a 40-year World Cup drought, opening the door to the modern era of American soccer. Without that moment, who knows where we'd be today?

I'm thankful for the World Cup run in 2002, when the U.S. was a missed handball away from potentially reaching the semifinals. I was 11 years old, and I remember waking up in the early hours to watch a couple of the matches and not understanding the magnitude of what this run meant. Defeating top-ranked Spain 2-0 in the 2009 Confederations Cup semifinals, which I watched in my childhood living room, showed we could compete with anyone.

More recently, I'm thankful for the personal memories. First, making the road trip to Kansas City with two of my buddies for the final Gold Cup group stage match in 2019. Next, attending the 2021 Nations League final victory over Mexico in Denver. Along with the semifinal win over Honduras, those were my fourth and fifth U.S. matches, and the first time I was flying to see this team play, and I did it solo. I also attended two qualifiers later that year and early in 2022—the draw with Canada in Nashville and the win over El Salvador in Columbus.

For the 2024 Nations League finals in Arlington, with the travel and tickets secured, I proposed to my future wife on that Tuesday, turning it into an engagement trip we would never forget. The own goal to force overtime against Jamaica before the dominant win over Mexico in the final made for an eventful week. I am thankful for the trips she has made with me, to Chicago for the Gold Cup and to Atlanta and Kansas City for Copa America, plus the handful of matches here in St. Louis, most recently the 2-1 win over Guatemala—our first together as a married couple.

For the present, I'm grateful for Mauricio Pochettino's arrival and the renewed energy he's brought, though it started with plenty of question marks. Christian Pulisic is flourishing in his prime at AC Milan, while talents like Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Sergiño Dest star at Europe's biggest clubs. Folarin Balogun's commitment to our program gives us a true number nine.

Most importantly, hosting the 2026 World Cup on home soil provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The future has never looked brighter for American soccer, and for that, I'm truly thankful.