US President Joe Biden has pulled out his country’s soccer team ahead of its first match against Wales in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Monday.
Biden called the team’s head coach, Greg Berhalter, at 11:30 pm Friday Washington DC time, according to the NFL.
President Joe Biden telephoned the US World Cup squad ahead of the opener against Wales, urging them to “shock ’em all”.
Please wait, the President is online… 📞 pic.twitter.com/N6CxwOhqgN
— United States Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 20, 2022
The federation has released video excerpts of part of the call, explaining some of the expressions on the faces of the players and the coach.
Biden expressed his confidence in the team “that has some of the best players in the world” and that they will do something despite the difficulty of the competition, adding: “You represent this country, let’s shock them.”
Biden addressed his speech to the players: “Maintain mutual trust and play as much as you can, for your own good, for your families and for your teammates.”
After missing the finals for 64 years, Wales mark their return to the World Cup for the first time since 1958 by taking on the United States, who are also returning to the tournament after missing the 2018 edition.
The American side will take on their Welsh counterparts at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on the day the England side face their Iranian counterparts in the same group.
