Clint Dempsey asserts that achieving success in upcoming friendly matches will be crucial for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) to attract more American supporters at next year’s World Cup. This suggestion comes on the heels of disappointing attendance at recent games where fans overwhelmingly backed opposing teams, such as Guatemala and Mexico.

“We were outnumbered in the games that mattered in terms of the semifinal and then final. There were more fans for the opposing team. So it’s up to the national team players to put a product on the field that makes people want to go spend their hard-earned money,” Dempsey remarked during a recent interview.

Success over the next year is vital if the USMNT hopes to create an environment filled with enthusiastic, pro-American spectators at the World Cup, scheduled to kick off in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. Dempsey, who holds the American record for international goals alongside Landon Donovan, emphasized the importance of maintaining a competitive edge to excite fans.

Throughout their $10 million sextet of friendly matches, which span from September through June, Dempsey hopes to see a team that exudes energy, passion, and excellence on the pitch. “I want to see a team that is playing in an exciting style, whether it’s defending well, building out of the back, getting forward, creating chances, getting goals,” Dempsey stated.

With the backdrop of past disappointments, such as missing the 2018 World Cup and being eliminated early in the group stage of the 2024 Copa America, he anticipates a more dynamic and cohesive team for the 2026 tournament.

Dempsey has been stepping back from active competition but is busy raising his six children, with his oldest son Jackson now playing soccer at the academy level. As the U.S. prepares for the World Cup, Dempsey remains optimistic about the potential of the upcoming squad, especially with home-field advantage, suggesting that they will have an opportunity to do something special.