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‘Let’s change the way the world views American football’: Yunus Musah gives rallying cry ahead of USA’s World Cup match against England… though he could have lined up AGAINST USMNT if Gregg Berhalter was there hadn’t been
Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah believes his US team can take American football’s reputation to a new level at the World Cup in Qatar.
The 19-year-old’s ambitious words come as the USMNT play a crucial game against England. Victory would only want Musah to aim, but defeat would put the team on the brink of being knocked out of the tournament in the group stage.
Speak against BBC Sports, Musah said, “One of our goals as a group is to change the way the world views American football. Now we have the chance to do that at the World Cup.
Yunus Musah is ready to show the world how good American football is
‘We are so ambitious. We want to go all out. We think game by game. If you look at it that way, you’ll be further behind the competition before you know it.
“That’s what I think we should do, although I’ve never played at a World Cup before. Gregg (Berhalter) has played in two World Cups – he is a manager who knows and I trust him.’
Musah played for England at youth level – making 30 appearances in various teams – and he signed for Spanish team Valencia from England’s Arsenal when he was 16.
In November 2020, after talks with Berhalter, Musah chose to represent the US at the youth level.
“I’m both truly English and American,” Musah said. ‘I had a great time in England. I loved every time, had a lot of camps, great people and everything.
“It got to a point where I was playing in the first team [at Valencia] and played in the under-19s when I went to the national team.
“Gregg called me and told me about the project with the US. He told me how much he wanted me in the team and I was only 17 at the time. Having a first-team manager wanting me so badly really helped my decision.’
Musah is likely to start for the US alongside Weston McKennie of Juventus and team captain Tyler Adams of Leeds.