Landon Donovan and Tim Howard say the U.S. men’s team can ride its World Cup home-field atmosphere and elite European talent into a “magical summer,” even as they stop short of promising a title.
For the first time in 32 years, the United States men’s soccer team will play a World Cup match on home soil Friday night—and Landon Donovan and Tim Howard are already framing what that moment could become.
The sport’s popularity in the U.S. shifted dramatically after the 1994 World Cup, when the Stars and Stripes reached the knockout round for the first time since 1934. With the stakes of hosting again, Donovan and Howard describe a season that could feel like déjà vu. Howard puts it plainly: this U.S. group is probably the best the country has seen in recent memory.
Howard, a former U.S. goalkeeper, isn’t sold on the idea that this team can simply win it all. “I’m not sure they’re capable of winning it. That’s probably reserved for about five teams in the world.” But he also isn’t closing the door on something bigger—something fans can actually hold onto as the tournament begins.
He calls for a different kind of expectation. “But I do think they can have a magical summer where they go on a run, and they have magical moments, late goals, somebody becomes the darling of the team, and they capture the attention of the media and the supporters,” Howard said.
That “magical” part, in his view, isn’t only about talent. It’s also about timing and momentum—especially because the games are in America. “Of course. having a deep run is going to help the momentum. particularly because it’s at home and more people are going to be watching just simply because it’s in America.”.
Donovan and Howard also point to the atmosphere around the team. Howard and Donovan tie the excitement to fan energy, including the anticipated support from the American Outlaws, which they describe as part of what can make the home run feel different.
Still, both legends agree the starting line matters: winning the group is the bare minimum. From there, knockout football changes the equation.
Donovan recalled a specific benchmark—what a “Round of 32 game could look like.” That reference is to the U.S. team’s 3-2 win over Senegal on May 31, and the way that match unfolded. “That game against Senegal (a 3-2 USA win on May 31) was what a Round of 32 game could look like. maybe even a Round of 16 game. There were a bunch of changes. it was hot. both teams haven’t been together a long time yet. so I’m not putting too much into the result. ” Donovan said.
His caution doesn’t cancel his confidence. “I’m just saying that’s the type of opponent and the type of game you could get. We can absolutely win that game. And I would say we’re favored in games like that. Or at home, if our team’s playing well…”
Then he drew the line between possibility and probability. “Then you get to a Round of 16. and that’s where you get a Belgium. or a Portugal. or someone like that. And the challenge is. as we saw a month and a half ago when they played Belgium and Portugal. and they struggled mightily. If the spirit and the effort is what it was against Senegal, we can absolutely beat those teams too. We won’t be favored, but we can absolutely beat those teams, no question.”.
Howard focused on what the U.S. would have to do once the bracket tightens. If the team wants to reach the quarterfinals, he said it will need to beat a “bully” in the Round of 16. “That’s easy on paper. A lot of things have to happen,” Howard warned.
Even with that warning, both former stars believe the pieces are there. “I think this is a really talented team. Can they come together, all play their best soccer at the same time? We’ll see. But I do think they have the potential to do that,” Howard said.
Donovan, in the end, leaned further into the tournament promise. “They are capable of it. I am expecting a deep run into the tournament. I am.”
USA men's soccer World Cup Landon Donovan Tim Howard American Outlaws home field advantage magical summer Round of 16 quarterfinals
Magical summer sounds like marketing lol
I don’t get how “home field atmosphere” magically makes you better? Like I love soccer but the refs still exist right. Also people say déjà vu every World Cup.
Donovan and Howard saying they can’t win it all is the same thing as saying they will win it all 😂. “Five teams in the world” bro there’s like 30 good teams. But if it’s at home, maybe they’ll just get lucky with late goals or whatever.
Home soil World Cup match?? I swear this happens and then everyone forgets until the next time. Hope Tim Howard is right about momentum, but “best team in recent memory” still doesn’t mean anything when the bracket gets real. Also I thought soccer popularity was already huge in America after 2010 or something, so idk why they keep talking about 1994 like it was yesterday.