'Whole country' rooting for US soccer team

A day ahead of their first match of the 2022 World Cup, the United States men’s national team received a phone call with a recognizable caller ID: “POTUS.”

President Joe Biden phoned the team Sunday as players and coaches prepared for their Monday matchup with Wales, their first taste of competition in the World Cup in Qatar.

“Coach, put me in. I’m ready to play,” Biden told U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter as the team listened on speakerphone.

“You guys, I know you’re the underdog,” Biden said. “But I tell you what, man, you’ve got some of the best players in the world on your team and you’re representing this country and I know you’re going to play your hearts out. So let’s go shock ‘em all. Keep trusting in one another, play as hard as you can for you and your families and your teammates. The whole country is rooting for you.”

The American team that last appeared in a World Cup eight years ago has mostly new faces this time around.

Only one player, 29-year-old defender DeAndre Yedlin, remains from the squad eliminated by Belgium in the second round of the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Berhalter was hired as coach in late 2018.

They face Wales, England and Iran in the tournament’s group stage. Kickoff against Wales is noon MST — 10 p.m. in Qatar. The match will air on TV in English via FOX and in Spanish via Telemundo. Viewers looking to stream the game can do so for free by signing up for fuboTV or DirecTV, which both come with free trials. Sling and Peacock Premium are other streaming options to watch the World Cup.

“I wish I was there to see you guys, I really do,” said Biden, who has not announced plans to attend the tournament. “Go get ‘em guys, just play your hearts out.”

“We got this,” Berhalter told the president.