US captain Tyler Adams says soccer unites despite world conflicts ahead of 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off one month from today with teams converging on the United States, Mexico and Canada for the tournament.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Iran will for sure play in the World Cup despite its conflict with the United States. Both nations qualified for the event. Infantino spoke at the CNBC Invest in America Forum last month in Washington, D.C. "We hope that, by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation," he said. "That would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play."

US men's national team captain and midfielder Tyler Adams did not address the Middle East conflict directly. He told Fox News Digital that soccer brings everybody together no matter the situation. "That’s something I gravitated towards when I wanted to play the sport. The diversity in it. How whatever country you go to, there’s soccer fields no matter where you are in the world. It’s that one sport that you find everywhere."

"I think this event is really going to bring people together, and I really hope it brings the American people together as well."

Adams played in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a host facing criticism over human rights violations and migrant worker deaths during stadium construction. He said the tournament provides positivity amid global uncertainty. "I think that times in the world are obviously crazy right now. When there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world, there’s nothing like a World Cup where people can close their eyes for a second and really experience something special."

"So, again, I think that success we have can really move the needle in how the sport grows in our country and I’m hoping we can do that."

The US team has never won a World Cup. Adams praised his squad's balance after their 2022 experience. "I think the balance we have within our squad is so good," he said. "So many of these guys I grew up with for such a long time now. They’re some of my closest friends, guys I talk to every day. So, at the bare minimum, we’re just going to be excited to hang out together, have the banter in the changing room that we have with one another, and really just enjoy the whole process."

The US opens Group D against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Iran plays there three days later.

Scotts, North America’s leading lawn care products brand, partnered with Adams on its Keep It Real initiative to expand youth sports access and green space. The effort has funded over $432,000 and partnered with Every Kid Sports to aid over 2,000 kids across 48 states. They restored natural grass fields, including one in Adams' hometown, to promote safer play.

"When they came to me with this idea and this initiative, it was quite simple," Adams said. "I think one of the biggest things I need to do as a professional athlete now is give back to my community. That being said, I am giving back to my community with the partnership where we did a field day last summer and we’re restoring the field I played on as a kid. It was pretty cool to go back home and see that a brand I’m working with supports the ideas I have and give back to that community. Really, really grateful for that and the partnership. We’re starting to do really good things."