'Wouldn't let them back into Italy' - USMNT and Juventus duo Weston McKennie & Tim Weah blasted for insulting Italian food

McKennie claimed the country’s celebrated culinary traditions lacked diversity. In attempting to explain their preferences, McKennie drew a comparison to his homeland, stating that even a similar dish, such as a burger, could taste dramatically different depending on the restaurant. Weah nodded in agreement, stating he leaned toward Italian-American dishes rather than traditional Italian fare, a comment that didn’t go unnoticed.

“You guys don’t have variety – it’s pasta, pizza, fish, steak,” McKennie said. “You know what the problem is with Italian food? It’s great, it’s good specific food that you do very well, but in America if I go to a burger joint or a steakhouse, then I go to another place 10 minutes down the street, I’m still eating a burger, but it’s a completely different taste. In Italy, I go to this restaurant and get a pesto pasta, I go 10 minutes down the street and order a pesto pasta, it’s the same thing.”

McKennie's remarks rapidly gained traction across Italian media and social platforms. Among the most vocal critics was retired goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, who took aim with biting sarcasm during an appearance on TV Play.

“The United States is the country with the worst food in the world," he lashed out. "They would even deep-fry the soles of their shoes. If I was [Italian prime minister Giorgia] Meloni, I wouldn’t let him back into Italy! How can you say there’s no variety in Italian cuisine? His very definition of ‘variety’ irritated me. McKennie, there are 200 million of you Americans and all you ever eat are hamburgers."

Viviano ended his tirade with a blunt conclusion: "The truth is, all the food in America was brought there by other nations. I just want to tell McKennie that he has achieved the incredible feat of managing to unite all of Italy against him. It is not about fans anymore, he can be insulted by absolutely everybody.”

This isn’t the first time McKennie’s palate has stirred up reactions. According to Football Italia, his unconventional food combinations have previously left Juventus teammates in disbelief. Reports suggest the American once proposed mixing cookies and brownies into pasta, or using ranch dressing as a pizza topping, ideas that reportedly shocked the dressing room. His most recent “fusion creation” of pasta mixed with pesto, tomato, and chicken didn’t go over well either, highlighting just how out of sync his taste preferences are with Italy’s deeply rooted culinary traditions.

Currently topping Group G, Juventus are set to face Premier League outfit Manchester City in Orlando on Thursday. A win would secure their place in the knockout stage and potentially spare them an encounter with Real Madrid in the last 16.