USMNT star Weston McKennie explains ‘what’s missing’ in American soccer & how FIFA Club World Cup & Lionel Messi can help to fix that

The domestic game continues to grow in the United States, courtesy of MLS performers such as Inter Miami superstar Messi, while McKennie forms part of a so-called ‘Golden Generation’ at international level that includes the likes of Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna.

Two major FIFA-sanctioned events are heading to America over the course of the next 12 months. The Club World Cup gets underway on June 14, while Messi’s Argentina will be looking to defend their World Cup crown on U.S. soil in the summer of 2026.

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McKennie sees obvious benefits to hosting those events, with it important for supporters to get the live experience of watching the best in the business if interest is to be both built and retained.

Juventus star McKennie has told DAZN of getting two forms of World Cup in the States: “I think it’s huge,. Obviously the U.S. has taken big steps in that sense, bringing players that may be towards the end of their career, but are still very influential players – Messi, [Luis] Suarez, Jordi Alba, [Sergio] Busquets and, at the beginning of time, [David] Beckham and Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] and all these guys going over to America, and it’s bringing more popularity to the sport there.

“So, I think obviously for Americans to be able to witness games and not the time difference of having to stay up or wake up early to watch games over here, they can see it right there live and see the players that they support and teams that they support.”

McKennie added: “I think it’ll draw more attention as well. And obviously, when the actual World Cup comes around, I think that’ll be very big for the culture or soccer culture in America, because I think what’s missing is maybe the people that don’t understand soccer or football and don’t really search to like go and learn about it or experience it, I think they’ll be able to get what the atmosphere and vibe and everything is.

“Because for me, in America, a lot of sports and sporting events, a lot of the people enjoy those sports, but they go there to have a good time with their friends and everything, but not really like, 'Okay, we’re focused on the game.'

“But I think whenever you have all the whole world coming into that area and then seeing how they treat it and how they are passionate about it, I think it will maybe draw a little bit more attention to other people wanting to watch it and feeling like the energy from everyone.”

McKennie - who is seeing a new contract in Turin speculated on - will be among those on show at the 2025 Club World Cup as Serie A giants Juventus prepare to take on Manchester City, Wydad AC and Al-Ain in the group stage.