Daniel Cormier: The World Cup is Coming to the United States and Everything Feels Different

I’ll be honest – soccer wasn’t always my thing. Like a lot of people, I got pulled in because my kids started playing the video game. Then I started watching the actual matches, and that’s when it clicked. It really is a beautiful game.

Next summer, we’re hosting the biggest soccer tournament of all time – it’s happening right here in the United States. This World Cup is massive. Eleven host cities across the country, 48 teams competing, and the entire world watching. They’re saying around six billion people will tune in, and that’s hard to even wrap your head around.

Why This World Cup Feels Different for the United States

What makes this one special for me is the position the U.S. national team is in right now. For a long time, we just weren’t on the same level as the top countries. That’s changed. We’ve got players competing in Europe, playing in top-flight leagues, and gaining experience against the best in the world. Being the host country brings expectations, but it also brings belief – and this team deserves that belief.

Of course, the usual powers are still there. Argentina, England, Spain, Germany – those teams are loaded with talent and history. They’re rightfully considered favorites. But this feels different for the United States. For the first time in a long time, it feels like we can legitimately compete. Maybe not dominate every night, but in tournament soccer, you don’t have to. You just have to be better on one night.

I remember when we made a deep run years ago and how it pulled people in who didn’t even follow the sport. I went to a watch party in San Jose back then, and the energy was unreal. That’s when I felt that national pride kick in, even without knowing much about the game. Now that I’m invested, I’m fully locked in.

We’ve got matches happening close to my home in Santa Clara, games at iconic venues, and an entire country ready to rally behind a team that’s earned respect. The draw set us up nicely to get into the knockout stage, and once you’re there, anything can happen. Miracles happen in tournaments all the time. That’s why people love them.

The entire world comes together for this event. There’s nothing else like it in sports. And with the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting together, North America is about to be at the center of the soccer universe.

I can’t wait for it to start.