Huge-time soccer — coming quickly to MetLife Stadium, or one other American venue close to you.
The USA will collectively host the 2026 World Cup, a significant milestone within the nation’s historical past with the attractive recreation.
However first comes the FIFA Membership World Cup, which begins Saturday night time with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami internet hosting a recreation in South Florida.
The event has a brand new format with 32 membership groups from across the globe and a mega prize pool of roughly $1 billion to be divided among the many entrants.
Over the following 4 weeks, a number of the largest groups in world soccer (assume: Actual Madrid, Manchester Metropolis) and a few you’ve doubtless by no means heard of (introducing: Mamelodi Sundowns and Urawa Purple Diamonds) will sq. off in 11 cities throughout America.
9 of the matches will likely be held at MetLife, together with each semifinals and the July 13 last (all of the matches are streaming on DAZN).
To preview the event, The Submit caught up with Cobi Jones, a legend of the U.S. males’s nationwide staff who is aware of a factor or two about massive soccer video games on American soil.
Jones, 54, made 164 appearances for the USMNT, together with all 4 matches on the iconic 1994 World Cup hosted within the States.
The interview has been edited for size and readability.
NYP: What are you most excited to see from this Membership World Cup?
Jones: I don’t assume there’s a greater place to carry the Membership World Cup, particularly this new iteration of it, as a result of the U.S. is such a melting pot. A Membership World Cup is bringing groups from all around the world to come back right here and play. So, I assure you there’s going to be a fan base for each staff supporting it. This provides the common American fan — that perhaps isn’t a soccer fan, however simply is listening to about it — the chance to see some particular video games, as a result of it doesn’t matter what anybody says, when it comes event time, one thing particular all the time occurs.
NYP: Who’re a number of the star gamers you’re fascinated by seeing within the context of this competitors?
session on the eve of the Membership World Cup 2025 Group A
soccer match between Egypt’s Al-Ahly and US Inter Miami. AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Jones: Will we even need to say Lionel Messi? To truly see him taking part in in opposition to different competitors is nice. Erling Haaland, the large man up high for Man Metropolis and all the pieces he can do. And Kylian Mbappé [of Real Madrid].
I’m gonna leap to groups, too. You might have the PSG that simply received the Champions League. Folks must be doing no matter they will to get tickets to see PSG. Particularly within the L.A. space, you may have Monterrey from [Mexico’s] Liga MX. You go right down to Brazil and Argentina, Boca Juniors, Flamengo, these are groups which might be very recognized inside the soccer world, however perhaps not a lot to the common fan, and to have these groups arising right here and taking part in, that’s one thing particular. Bayern Munich, that’s one other staff.
NYP: How do you assume the MLS groups will fare, matched up with groups they’re not sometimes attending to play in a aggressive atmosphere?
Jones: I believe it’s going to be more durable for Inter Miami as a result of they do have Messi, and I believe everybody’s going to grasp all eyes are going to be on Messi and his new membership. … I do need to see the [Seattle] Sounders and LAFC, how they do match up in opposition to these massive groups. Perhaps, perhaps a few of these groups will overlook the MLS sides, and hopefully, that might be a bit of little bit of the downfall for them. I do consider after this event there’s gonna be far more respect and a greater understanding of MLS.
NYP: Out of your expertise in American soccer, what makes MetLife an attention-grabbing venue for the marquee video games that we’re gonna get right here?
Jones: It’s all the time nice to see the crowds, and that’s one thing that not solely as a fan which you could get pleasure from that atmosphere, when it’s loud and there’s an depth and also you begin to get the pulsing really feel of an intense matchup, but additionally the gamers get pleasure from that and I believe that interprets onto the sphere.
NYP: How do you assume this Membership World Cup can roll into the World Cup that’s coming right here subsequent summer time?
Jones: We’ve had friendlies right here on a regular basis, however to have an precise significant event right here, it is a nice alternative to see some high-level video games, some high-level expertise, and that’s gonna hopefully get the fan base excited. In the event that they love this, it’s solely pure to simply construct into the following 12 months. It’s going to be lower than a 12 months away from the World Cup that’s going to be right here.
