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A global spotlight will shine on the 2026 FIFA World Cup a month from today as teams from around the world will converge on the United States, Mexico and Canada to begin the much-anticipated tournament on the pitch.
But while the World Cup creates positivity and friendly competition for billions around the world, problems still exist in real life.
One of these situations exists in the Middle East, as the United States and Iran, which also qualified for the World Cup, remain in open conflict. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said Iran will “certainly” play the World Cup despite the conflict.
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Tyler Adams of the United States moves the ball during a match against Costa Rica at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on June 29, 2025. (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Tyler Adams, the U.S. men’s national team midfielder and captain, did not comment directly on the conflict in the Middle East, but he knows that despite “crazy” things happening around the world, the soccer game and the World Cup can be a unifying time for everyone.
“Football brings everyone together regardless of the situation,” he told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview, while also highlighting his partnership and work with Scotts. “That’s something I was drawn to when I wanted to play the sport. The diversity of it. No matter what country you go to, there are football pitches, no matter where you are in the world. It’s the one sport you find everywhere.
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“I think this event will really bring people together, and I really hope it brings the American people together as well.”
Adams’ first World Cup came in 2022 when he represented the United States with his teammates at a highly controversial host venue in Qatar. From criticism of the country’s human rights abuses to the deaths of migrant workers during stadium construction, many accused Qatar of sports laundering throughout the tournament.
But Adams believes that four years on, no matter what happens around the world, the World Cup can bring positivity, camaraderie and unity.
Tyler Adams #4 of the United States sends the ball forward during a game against Japan at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on September 9, 2025. (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
“I think the times in the world are obviously crazy right now. When there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world, there’s nothing like a World Cup where people can close their eyes for a second and really experience something special,” he said. “So, again, I think the success we’re having can really move the needle in how the sport grows in our country, and I hope we can do that.”
Although the U.S. has never won a World Cup, Adams knows this group is a special group, especially after the experience they had in 2022. They were green in Qatar, but now, with a home crowd behind them, Adams is confident his group has what it takes to not just get out of Group D, but make a run for the trophy.
“I think the balance we have in our squad is so good,” he said. “So many of these guys I’ve grown up with for so long now. They’re some of my closest friends, guys I talk to every day. So at least we’re just going to be excited to hang out together, have the banter in the locker room that we have with each other and really just enjoy the whole process.”
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The USA will begin group stage play in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium against Paraguay on June 12. Meanwhile, Iran will play at the same host venue three days later.
“We hope that by that time the situation will of course be a peaceful situation,” Infantino said during the CNBC Invest in America Forum last month in Washington, DC about the Middle East conflict. “It would certainly help. But Iran will of course come. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”
Tyler Adams of the United States salutes fans after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match against the Netherlands at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on December 3, 2022. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
GROW YOUR GAME WITH SCOTTS
Speaking of growing the game, Scotts, North America’s leading lawn care brand, has partnered with Adams on its “Keep It Real” initiative, which aims to expand access to youth sports and green spaces, raising over $432,000 while partnering with “Every Kid Sports to help over 2,000 kids in 48 states.
As part of the effort, Scotts and Adams, who highlight the value of natural grass in terms of safer play, helped restore natural grass pitches where the next generation can grow the game. One of them was even his home field.
“When they came to me with this idea and this initiative, it was pretty simple. I think one of the biggest things that I have to do as a professional athlete now is give back to my community. That being said, I’m giving back to my community with the partnership where we did a field day last summer and we’re restoring the field that I played on as a kid. It was pretty cool to come back to my brand and see that I have a supporter back and that I have a supporter back with an idea. Really, really grateful for that and the partnership. We’re starting to do really good things.
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