{"id":6518,"date":"2026-07-05T06:07:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T06:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=6518"},"modified":"2026-07-05T06:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T06:07:22","slug":"us-players-and-coach-mauricio-pochettino-represent-the-diversity-of-america-on-july-fourth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=6518","title":{"rendered":"US players and coach Mauricio Pochettino represent the diversity of America on July Fourth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By ANDREW DESTIN<\/p>\n

SEATTLE (AP) \u2014 Less than 24 hours removed from throwing out the first pitch at a Seattle Mariners game alongside his team, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino extended some unexpected birthday wishes. <\/p>\n

Read more World Cup what to know: Co-host Mexico seeks to reach quarterfinals for first time in 40 years<\/a><\/p>\n

They were not directed toward forward Folarin Balogun, who turned 25 on Friday, but rather the country the two are representing at the World Cup. Saturday marked the 250th anniversary of American independence, which was cause for celebration in Pochettino\u2019s eyes before practice at Husky Soccer Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy birthday,\u201d Pochettino said to reporters as he circled the pitch. \u201cIt\u2019s 250 years, no?\u201d <\/p>\n

The 54-year-old coach, who was born in Argentina and lives in Spain, has fully embraced the American experience this summer. Pochettino has joined tens of thousands of fans in singing John Denver\u2019s \u201cTake Me Home, Country Roads\u201d after U.S.wins \u2014 all while not letting his players forget his roots. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s 200 percent Argentine,\u201d U.S. captain Tim Ream said. \u201cI think he\u2019s obviously taken to the culture, and at the same time has added his bit of culture to us as well. \u2026 The group is such a melting pot of staff, players. And, it\u2019s just an incredible representation of who we are as people. But, he definitely won\u2019t let us forget that he still is Argentine at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pochettino isn\u2019t the only member of the team with roots outside the United States. Six players on the roster were born abroad, while others like Balogun were raised in Europe.<\/p>\n

Balogun was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, but raised in London. He could have played for any of three countries, yet chose to play for the U.S.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a unique experience for me,\u201d Balogun said, \u201cbeing in the World Cup in your home nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many Americans are still lukewarm about soccer. Its popularity lags behind American football, basketball and baseball.<\/p>\n

But new polling from Ipsos Sports, provided exclusively to The Associated Press, shows that the World Cup has excited soccer fans and piqued many Americans\u2019 interest, even as the sport faces an uphill climb to reach mainstream popularity.<\/p>\n

Read more Paraguay gets physical in a heated World Cup loss to France in steamy Philadelphia<\/a><\/p>\n

On Monday at Lumen Field, the U.S. has an opportunity to further invigorate its fans when it plays Belgium in the Round of 16. A victory would mark the first time the Americans have ever won two knockout games at the World Cup, while securing their second quarterfinal appearance and first since 2002.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201c(An) opportunity to continue to inspire tens of millions of people, inspire kids,\u201d Ream said. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for us to win another knockout-stage game in a World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. will need contributions from its diverse roster. Starters like Weston McKennie and Sergi\u00f1o Dest, for instance, are the children of U.S. service members. <\/p>\n

Dest is confident the Americans can win on Monday, even after Belgium blew out the U.S. 5-2 in a World Cup warmup match in March.<\/p>\n

\u201cBelgium is a great opponent,\u201d Dest said. \u201cBut, we also see some opportunities for us to be able to win that game. \u2019Cause we are also a great team at the moment. We grew a lot, as well, in this tournament. And, at the moment, it\u2019s really difficult to beat us. So, it will be difficult for Belgium as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saturday provided an opportunity for Ream and his teammates to celebrate the American holiday by watching fireworks from a rooftop bar. Ream previously played for Fulham of the Premier League before returning to the United States with Charlotte of Major League Soccer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit different celebrating here than over there because obviously, in a lot of ways, a lot of people don\u2019t actually know why we celebrate the Fourth,\u201d Ream said, \u201cwhich is crazy to me, because they were a big part of why we celebrate the Fourth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. hopes to close out the holiday weekend by winning Monday night, with a team that is quintessentially American in Ream\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith all our different backgrounds, where we all have grown up, it\u2019s a true representation of what America is,\u201d Ream said. \u201cIt\u2019s a melting pot of people, personalities, of characters. It\u2019s the perfect representation of what the U.S. is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Junior Caminero, 3 more Rays picked for AL team in All-Star Game<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

See more of AP\u2019s World Cup coverage here <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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