IRVINE, Calif. — One of the great ironies around this U.S. men’s national team is that the 26 men responsible for its World Cup run might be the least qualified to describe its impact — one of the biggest stories percolating in Orange County as training resumed Monday.
By design, the USMNT remains isolated.
Their camp in Irvine is an hour south of the Los Angeles World Cup hub; their beachfront hotel is private. Many of the players live in Europe; a few grew up there.
Their focus remains on the next training session and facing Turkey on Thursday.
To the extent the impact reaches them, it’s in interview requests, the number of reporters who show up at training and the videos they’re seeing on social media.
And of course, the fans at games.
“I’ve been trying to comprehend it,” Folarin Balogun said. “But I think America’s such a big country, it’s difficult. Weston [McKennie’s] been showing me videos because I sit next to him on the plane, he’s been showing me videos of fans in different parts, watching the games on big screens in bars and stuff.
“Every time we score, they’re celebrating in different places. I think it’s not something any of us can really comprehend because we’re in it. I think once we’re out of it and kinda getting on with our daily lives, we’ll be able to see the impact. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Make no mistake: This World Cup will change lives, especially if the USMNT keeps winning.
For some — very possibly including Balogun, one of the breakout stars of this team — that will come in the form of a ballooning transfer value and demand for their services.
There will be more endorsements and less ability to walk down the street unbothered.
And, U.S. Soccer certainly hopes, more interest in competitions outside of the World Cup, better attendance at games and more kids kicking around a ball.
Of course, the players are conceptually aware of all of that.
They’ve talked regularly about wanting to make the sport grow stateside.
Actually feeling that impact, though, comes in fleeting moments during the tournament itself.
The rest is to ponder afterward.
Even the atmospheres at the games themselves can escape notice while the game is ongoing.
It wasn’t until after Friday’s game, when they joined the crowd in singing along to Bon Jovi and John Denver, that some players fully realized the scene they were part of.
“I think in the game, you don’t realize how much support you have in the stands,” Alex Freeman said Friday in Seattle. “And then, after the game, we’re just able to take it all in and realize how much of a great support system we have in the U.S. fans.”
There will be more moments of epiphany to come.
Freeman, anonymous a year ago, has become a household name after scoring against Australia.
The story of Balogun’s mom being stopped from boarding a flight and giving birth to him in Brooklyn as a result has become legend.
They don’t fully see it yet.
Definitionally, they can’t.
How big it gets will depend on how far they go.
Things can accelerate fast in this country.
Around this team, they’re speeding up.
“To have a whole nation behind you, that’s something so special and when you come to games like [Friday’s] and you see the support — there’s been friendlies that we’ve played where we’ve been outnumbered, you know what I mean?” Tyler Adams said. “I just want every game to matter to the common spectator or people that don’t even enjoy soccer.
“Let’s go to the game, let’s enjoy it. They know the players’ names, they want to be the next whoever. Alex Freeman scored a goal today, there’s gonna be kids running around wanting Alex Freeman jerseys. For me, that’s what it’s about. That’s what the growth of the game is about. I know we have the possibility to do that.”
