There is no doubt that the has been a smashing success in the USA. A sports-crazed nation has absorbed every great moment that the tournament has produced. If any further proof is needed, just look at the American sports stars who have been thrilled by the action over the last month.
NFL teams open their respective training camps for the upcoming 2026 season in just a few weeks, so many stars took in the World Cup action while they could. Co-host USA’s two group stage matches at Los Angeles Stadium brought out a slew of stars from all walks of life, including and wide receiver Puka Nacua, who were on hand to cheer on the Stars & Stripes.
"It's great energy, having an international crowd is a lot of fun... to hear different languages and see people from all over the world,” Stafford told FIFA. “My daughters are here with me, so to experience that is pretty cool.”
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson excelled at the collegiate level with the University of Texas Longhorns and he was back in the Lone Star State to take in the Portugal-Spain Round of 16 contest at Dallas Stadium. Robinson has long been an admirer of the beautiful game, forging a friendship with Brazil star Vinicius Jr.
“We always text each other after games,” said Robinson about his bond with the Real Madrid man. “He watches all of our games. He was just like sending me highlights from the game. It’s cool to hang out with him, to talk with him. He’s such a great dude.”
Joining Robinson for Spain’s narrow victory was former Dallas Cowboys great Emmitt Smith, who is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher and won three Super Bowls with ‘America’s Team’. The incomparable running back was on hand to award Spain's Rodri the Michelob Ultra Superior Player Of The Match Award.
Kansas City Chiefs standout quarterback Patrick Mahomes is an enormous soccer lover, and one of the millions of Lionel Messi fans on the planet. Mahomes and his wife Brittany were part of the pre-match festivities for the Albiceleste’s opening match against Algeria. They also attended Argentina's dramatic 3-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland.
The three-time Super Bowl champion was also one of the many NFL stars past and present who were left in awe at Messi’s equalising goal in their dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt.
Along those lines, legendary New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady equated the Messi-inspired comeback against the Egyptians with his own transcendent comeback when the Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit in the Super Bowl to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in February 2017.
Brady, whose children Benjamin and Vivian have Brazilian roots through their mother, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, was also on hand to cheer on the Seleção at New York New Jersey Stadium in their opening contest with Morocco.
Fresh off the conclusion of the 2025-26 NBA season, the world’s best basketball players also took in the games, with Hall of Famer and Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen and former NBA champion Dwayne Wade watching USA’s 4-1 triumph over Paraguay.
Former Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki was a fixture at the games at Dallas Stadium and relished being on hand for the venue’s first match between Netherlands and Japan, plus Norway's 2-1 Round of 32 victory against Côte d'Ivoire.
“[Netherlands-Japan] was my first-ever World Cup game,” he said. “I had a blast. Hosting so many fans from all over the world... it’s a tremendous opportunity. And also to grow the sport of soccer. MLS and the sport have come a long way in the 25 years I’ve been here. If we can promote the sport even more, that’s amazing. We got to put on a good show.”
The New York Knicks won their first NBA title since 1973 right as the World Cup was kicking off. Many of the team’s stars were on hand at the games at New York New Jersey Stadium, including ‘Mr. Clutch’ Jalen Brunson. His Knicks team-mate Josh Hart was disappointed to see USA fall to Belgium in the Round of 16, but took solace from the fact that he is an NBA champion.
Other attendees were Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who presented the match ball at the Argentina-Egypt game in Atlanta, and of course , who passionately followed Colombia and was on hand for their group stage finale against Portugal in Miami and the Round of 16 tie with Switzerland in Vancouver.
The Major League Baseball season schedule runs in direct conflict with the global finals, but several of the game’s best still got a chance to take in the action. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and his wife Katia enjoyed a game at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Meanwhile, Seattle Mariners players Bryan Woo, Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodriguez attended the Belgium-Egypt encounter on 15 June at Seattle Stadium.
An unlikely bond was formed between Atlanta Braves centerfielder Michael Harris II and England. After taking in their team's dramatic 2-1 win over Congo DR, fans of the Three Lions attended the Braves game that night and adopted Harris II as their favourite player, singing his name throughout. Since then, Harris II has gone all in on England bringing it home.
The National Hockey League also wrapped up its season in June, and some of their top players enjoyed the global showpiece. Edmonton Oilers and Canada native Connor McDavid was in attendance for Canada’s opening match at Toronto Stadium against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Meanwhile, 2026 Winter Olympics gold medalists Matthew and Brady Tkachuk of USA spoke about how Mauricio Pochettino’s team galvanised the country, similar to their winning campaign in Milan last February.
“It’s just incredible to see how unified the country was while watching them, it was so awesome and reminded us a lot of the Olympics in Milan,” said Matthew Tkachuk on Pardon My Take. "It’s amazing what the world stage and playing for your country will do for the whole country and having success.
"I love those guys, I was such a super fan, I’m kind of a bandwagon fan since I’m not a big soccer guy, but having it in the US was so cool. Me and my buddies in St. Louis would always go somewhere to watch the games. It was a win for the country because of how important it was for all of us to watch.”
Sources: FIFA Official
