Before the U.S. national football team defeated Pochettino 2-0 in the Round of 32 of the World Cup and moved on to the Round of 16, the entire team was invited to the Seattle Mariners’ home stadium, T-Mobile Stadium, to watch the Mariners play against the Blue Jays. U.S. national football team’s Argentine head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, served as the opening ceremony guest and participated in the grand and lively pre-match ceremony.
The US team secured a victory in the Round of 32 at Seattle Sound and will face Belgium in the Round of 16. The team remained in Seattle to prepare and continued training at the University of Washington, giving them the opportunity to watch today’s Major League Soccer match at the Mariners’ home stadium.
To welcome the national team and celebrate the upcoming Independence Day, the Mariners held a grand pre-game ceremony at their home stadium today. The stadium was covered with a red carpet and lined with national flags. Captain Christian Pulisic and goaltender Matt Freese received a warm welcome when they entered the game. Cristian Roldan, who plays for the local professional team Seattle Sounders, entered the stadium carrying the Mariners’ home run trident, and was greeted with the loudest applause and cheers.
The American players lined up behind the mound, and Pochettino, wearing a Mariners jersey, took to the mound to throw the first pitch. Mariners manager Dan Wilson served as the catcher, kicking off the game. Afterward, the entire Mariners team came onto the field, unfurled the American flag, and posed for a group photo with the American team.
Rodin picked up the microphone and said, “Thank you Seattle, thank you for your love and support. Let’s win the World Cup!” This shout ignited the atmosphere. The entire stadium chanted “USA,” and the classic song “Country Roads,” the theme song for the US team’s victory in this World Cup, played, with the whole stadium joining in a heartwarming sing-along.
