SEATTLE – As the country celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, the U.S. Men’s National Team participated in the time-honored tradition known as America’s pastime.
The USMNT were honored at the professional baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, July 3. In a pre-game ceremony filled with fanfare, Seattle welcomed the U.S. back to the city where it will face ninth-ranked Belgium on Monday, July 6 in a knockout stage match in the Round of 16 at FIFA World Cup 2026.
Donned in Mariners colors of Northwest green, navy blue and white, Mauricio Pochettino threw out the ceremonial first pitch at T-Mobile Park. After getting his first few reps before training at the Husky Soccer Stadium at the University of Washington earlier in the day, the U.S. head coach stepped onto the field in front of thousands and made a confident throw that his captain graded an A-plus. Pochettino's toss traveled over the center of the plate as if the Argentina native had been throwing baseballs all his life.
"It was actually really, really good,” defender Tim Ream said. “[Mauricio] only had a little bit of practice...it looked like a strike to us."
As the special guests, every single one of the 26 USMNT players on the World Cup roster was introduced prior to the regular season game between the two 2025 American League division winners. USMNT players emerged from the tunnel bordered by American flags and received an enthusiastic welcome from the Seattle faithful, which included many Stars and Stripes jerseys.
Easily none of the 26 received more thunderous applause than Cristian Roldan. The former University of Washington Husky and decade-long Seattle Sounders midfielder has called Seattle home since 2013. Roldan carried out the Mariners’ gold triton and delivered a message to the Seattle crowd he knows so well.
“Thank you, Seattle,” he said. “Thank you for the love and support. Let’s go win a World Cup. Go USA! Go Mariners!”
The U.S. Men’s National Team returns to Seattle after playing previously in the city during the group stage of this year's FIFA World Cup. On June 19, the U.S. defeated knockout-bound Australia 2-0 in front of more than 66,925 boisterous fans at Seattle Stadium in a match that helped the U.S. clinch first place in Group D.
And the USMNT has historically done well in Seattle. The team has a perfect 7-0-0 record at Seattle Stadium, tied for the best winning percentage at a domestic stadium, and a 10-1-1 all-time record in the city.
That group stage match two weeks ago featured one of the loudest and most energized crowds to show up for the USMNT in the tournament so far. The U.S. is looking forward to having the support of the 12th man as it plays its most important match yet, aiming to win its fourth game of the tournament and advance to the Quarterfinals of a FIFA World Cup for the second time in program history.
“The sports fans here, especially in soccer, are incredible,” Ream said Saturday before training. “I know that from playing here with the club level. The reception, the fans outside of the hotel, the baseball game last night, it's so impressive. It makes this feel so much more special when you have that level of support. It gives you even more motivation to go on and put performances in, ultimately to win games and do everything you possibly can to make things happen.”
