With the World Cup just days away, former USMNT forward Jozy Altidore wants the 2026 team to relinquish home-court advantage in America.
“(It’s) a lot of pressure, but I like to call it good pressure,” Altidore said. “You have an opportunity to play for your country, represent your family, represent the United States of America on a world level that we haven’t seen before, and so I think the players are really excited. I was able to spend some time with them last weekend and just to see the interest, the excitement, and to see the interest, the excitement, I can’t wait to see things go well next week. The tournament and really put US soccer on the map.”
Altidore has a lot of experience on the big stage.
While he first got a taste of the World Cup with the U-17 team in 2005, he played again with the U-20 team in 2017. He turned professional soon after and made four appearances at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, helping the USA advance to the round of 16, where they were eventually defeated by Ghana. Then in 2014, Altidore got injured just 23 minutes into the game in Brazil, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament. The USA eventually fell again to Belgium and then lost in the round of 16.
The USMNT have yet to win a World Cup trophy, but with such a competitive squad heading into this year’s games, Altidore thinks they have a great shot if they take advantage of their home field.
“I think it’s great,” Altidore says of the team’s chances. “I think every player dreams of scoring a big goal in front of their family and friends that they’ve grown up with. To have people who have been part of their journey really be able to be with them and experience it, I think it’s very special. It’s something that maybe happens once in a lifetime. So I think it’s going to be a really fun moment for the guys and I really know they’re going to enjoy it.” experienced.”
How Altidore wants the USMNT to learn, focus and rebuild
While professional athletes are almost always training, Altidore provides insight into what players do in their final weeks leading up to the game.
“I think there’s obviously a little bit more focus,” he says Altidore, which was partnered with Advil for their rebranding campaign, which aims to break the stigma of ‘no pain, no play’. “You do everything with that intention, but obviously when you represent your country, it’s a great honor. It’s a great honor. And so I think most players try to approach it with the same exact attitude and want to put their best foot forward in a way that’s very different from the club competition, because of the importance of the World Cup and how much you cheer the crowd.”
Altidore points out that it is important for players to stay locked in and peak at the right time while staying in the moment and studying their next opponent.
“When I was playing, it was just focus,” Altidore said. “Keeping the main thing and really just enjoying the moment. It’s an incredible opportunity to play at this level. It’s a childhood dream, so you just want to make sure you enjoy it as much as you do.
A simple piece of advice for players, he offers to enjoy the experience of playing in a World Cup tournament, something he has been enjoying for nearly 12 years to the day since he last stepped onto the field for Team USA at the World Cup.
“You have to take it all in and make sure you take mental pictures of what’s around you and how amazing it is, because they’re so few and nothing like it,” he says.
At the same time, he advises to keep a balance and not get too much in the moment. After all, there is an end goal. The United States’ first World Cup crown.
“You’re obviously aware of this level of players and talent pool,” Altidore says. I think everyone is aware of individual personalities. It’s more about understanding how each country will approach the games, some of their strengths and weaknesses, because it’s a bit different from the club game. But I guess not all guys lose too much sleep over it. I think at this level, you expect everyone in your team to have an element of world-class play, and so you’re always ready for absolute competition. It just comes with the territory at this level. “
Rest and recovery are just as important as the game itself, and Altidore has some final words of wisdom for the USMNT heading into their first big game on June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles, California.
“A lot of fluids (and) a lot of rest,” Altidore says. “It just really takes time for the body to recover. I think it’s four or five days between games, so I think the guys will make sure they take the time to get the fluids in and get the legs ready to go back under so it’s going to be another high-intensity game in a few days.”
And as an added bonus, he says simple remedies like the ones he used from his days on the field still work.
“And Advil was really helpful because it was always part of my recovery,” Altidore continues. “It targets all the pain points I’ve dealt with in my career at source.”
