Dear United States National Team,
The United States will not win the World Cup in Qatar. In fact, the USA is not going to win a World Cup in our lifetime, although I must confess that I secretly harbor hope – I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer.
Don’t hate us. We hope we are wrong. We would love to see our boys lift the World Cup trophy above their heads as much as any fan anywhere.
But to love this team – to follow them around the world – we don’t need that. It’s the journey that matters.
The national team and its incredible fans have walked this path together for over 20 years. We’ve had some unbelievable ups and downs on the field. The US is, for most, an underdog on the world stage – capable of incredible results (Italy in 2006 and England in 2010) but also disappointing performances.
To say that our lives are intertwined with football would be a huge understatement.
I have been to 149 Team USA matches in 18 countries on four continents. As far as I know, I’ve been to more matches than any other fan group member. ‘The American Outlaws’???????? When the USA took the field against Wales in Qatar, it was my 150th game. I’ve participated in the last four World Cups, including Russia – a sad case without the USA to keep me company.
My partner Amy has been in 108 matches for the national team. Their first live professional soccer game was USA v Mexico at Estadio Azteca in 2005. Our relationship started during the 2002 World Cup. We had our first kiss while staying up late to watch USA v Portugal on TV.
A few years later, in 2005, I convinced Amy to watch her first match in Mexico City. It was a trip that changed our lives forever. We met amazing football friends and fell in love with the experience of traveling to other countries to follow the team.
After a long courtship and many, many games, I finally proposed to Amy in Costa Rica, the day before a World Cup qualifier between the US and Costa Rica in 2009. Later, Amy was attacked by water. -live, but that’s another story.
After we got married, in 2010, our honeymoon was the World Cup in South Africa, where our tourist agency was deceived and we were briefly without accommodation or transport. Still, it was one of the best trips of our lives, culminating in Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria.
Then came Martin.
Our son, Martin, was born – of course – on a US-Mexico game day, April 2, 2014. His first outfit was a football overalls. I was holding him while Michael Bradley scored during the match. My gleeful cry startled him. I remember him looking at me like he said, ‘What’s going on?’
But 6 months after he was born, we got some devastating news. Martin was diagnosed with an extremely rare terminal brain condition. We were told he had weeks to months to live.
But Martin surprised us all. He went everywhere we went. Traveling with us as we watch football games across the country and the world: Ireland, England, Trinidad, Puerto Rico. The US Soccer Community and the Group The American Outlaws surrounded us with love and support.
Shortly after Martin’s diagnosis, the team hosted us for a behind-the-scenes experience at a game in Miami. We visit the locker room. Martin has been photographed with players including Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore.
From then on, at game-eve parties or at the back gates, our fellow fans would drop by to pat Martin on the head or give Martin a peck on the cheek. He has met more US players than we can count. And when he came to the stadium with us, he always got VIP treatment.
Martin died on September 23, 2021. He was 7 years old.
At the USA-Jamaica World Cup Qualifiers in Austin in October 2021, the team and group The American Outlaws honored our son. They added Martin to the lineup and celebrated his pre-game life. We will be eternally grateful.
Amy and I will be joining our team and our friends – our adopted family of fans – in Qatar. We couldn’t be more excited for this young and talented generation to take to the field.
We want to see victories and big goals. We want to win a World Cup.
But winning is not what we love most about our national team. It’s the journey, and it’s the people you meet along the way.
And Amy will be wearing her national team jersey with Martin’s name on the back for good luck.
Come on, come on, USA!
