# @ussoccerplus on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DCqLKHkJClT
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/25043559-ussoccerplus-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/44ccb9ad8f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-11-22T03:43:05.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** 𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐬 (@ussoccerplus) — https://gondola.cc/ussoccerplus

## Caption

Time has flown by. On this day two years ago, the USMNT started their 2022 World Cup campaign and in less than two years, the U.S. will host the World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup final will be at the 82,000 seater MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Tony Meola, the legendary USMNT keeper who is a New Jersey native, simply can’t wait.

“When they announced it was going to be there, I just thought man what an incredible moment for the area,” Meola told NBC New York.

“If anyone had told me back then that ‘hey, one day the World Cup final is going to be a mile down the road’, I would’ve said don’t bet your last penny on it.”

“We have to enjoy it because there’s not a lot of stadiums in the world that can say they hosted the World Cup final. So this is gonna be amazing.”

“Playing in the World Cup at home is one of the things I really cherished. Having had the opportunity to play in the U.S., there’s not many players in the history of our sport that can say they played in a World Cup at home.”

Meola, who represented the USMNT in three different World Cups, also believes soccer’s popularity will explode even more with the 2026 World Cup.

“If I had a nickel for anytime anyone told me that 1994 was the first time they watched soccer, I’d be rich. I can’t imagine what’s it gonna look like after 2026,” the former goalkeeper said.

“You and I will be old by then. We will just sit back and watch those young superstars that have got their first experience watching the game in the 2026 World Cup.”

Meola is still involved with the game. He works for CBS Sports as a pundit and will be covering the 2026 World Cup closely.

[Via Anthony Kyaw] 

#tonymeola #newjersey #usmnt #ussoccer #worldcup2026

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## Tags

worldcup2026, ussoccer, usmnt, tonymeola, newjersey

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