US President, Joe Biden, pulled his country’s football team back, before its first match against Wales in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Monday.
Biden called the team’s coach, Greg Berhalter, at 11:30 p.m. Friday, Washington DC time, according to the NFL.
President Joe Biden phoned the US World Cup team ahead of the opener against Wales, urging them to “let’s shock ’em all.”
Please hold, the President is on the line… ???? pic.twitter.com/N6CxwOhqgN
— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 20, 2022
The federation published video excerpts of part of the call, explaining some expressions on the faces of the players and the coach.
Biden expressed his confidence in the team “which has some of the best players in the world” and that they will do something despite the difficult competitions, adding, “You represent this country, let’s shock them.”
Biden directed his speech to the players, “Keep your trust in each other, and play as hard as you can, for your sake, for your families, and for your teammates.”
After being absent from the finals for 64 years, Wales marks its return to the World Cup for the first time since 1958 by facing the United States, which in turn returns to the tournament after missing the 2018 edition.
The American team will face its Welsh counterpart at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on the day that the English team will face its Iranian counterpart in the same group.