Every player representing their country in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will do whatever it takes to see victory on the world’s biggest stage in soccer.For the United States men’s national team (USMNT), it means a little bit more being that the World Cup will be played on home soil this summer.All 26 men who was announced to the official roster know what’s at stake, as the home fans are ready to cheer for the Stars and Stripes in an opportunity of a lifetime for these players. In turn, Clint Dempsey, a three-time World Cup participant with the USMNT, believes this group will do what he did on this stage during his playing days.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM”As you can see, I’ve already gave my nose. Broke that. I’ve already come back from two heart procedures to try to qualify for 2018 [World Cup]. There’s a lot of sacrifices people make to represent their country. I think there’s no greater honor,” Dempsey told Fox News Digital, while highlighting his work as a mentor for the “Abbott Dream Team,” a program from global health leader Abbott and soccer club Real Madrid.During the 2014 World Cup, Dempsey was hit in the face, and blood rushed from his nose which he suspected to be broken. He was correct, but that wasn’t figured out until after the match.Dempsey, the team’s captain, led by example as he played through the pain during the U.S. victory over Ghana, 2-1. He scored the first goal just 34 seconds into the match, and it didn’t matter an accidental shin hit him square in the face. He wasn’t leaving the pitch.Then, Dempsey underwent two separate heart procedures to solve an irregular heartbeat. The U.S. didn’t qualify for the World Cup in 2018, but Dempsey tried his hardest to get back into that uniform to represent his country.USMNT CAPTAIN TYLER ADAMS READY TO BE IN ‘PATRIOTIC MOOD’ PLAYING ON HOME SOIL FOR 2026 FIFA WORLD CUPAfter all, it has always been his dream to play in the World Cup for his nation, and even if he had done that already three times, he was going to do his best to play again.”As a kid , that’s what I prayed about when I went to sleep – playing for my country and playing in World Cups,” he added.For some on the USMNT, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, this will be their second time having the privilege of doing so. For others like Ricardo Pepi, Alex Zendejas and Sebastian Berhalter, their dreams will be fulfilled on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.But it’s much more than just stepping foot on that grass and taking on countries from around the globe. The opportunity to write this USMNT into the history books, on home soil, is ever present for the 26 men embarking on this World Cup journey.Dempsey knows this group has what it takes to make a run, and he also has complete faith they will take pride in their country and use the home fans to their advantage just like he would.DIEGO LUNA, WHO WAS IN NIKE’S WORLD CUP PROMOT
Clint Dempsey invokes broken nose, heart procedures to show how much playing for USMNT in World Cup meant
