The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially arrived, and former U.S. Women’s National Team star Mia Hamm is excited about the tournament. Hamm, who represented the US in the 1999 World Cup, spoke to Fox News Digital about the upcoming event.
A Sense of Pride
For Hamm, representing the US was a dream come true. ‘Representing the U.S., wearing the colors and the badge, meant everything for us,’ she explained. ‘It’s something you dream about as a kid, and then to have the opportunity to do it for as long as I did, I never took it for granted.’
Hamm recalled the 1999 World Cup, where the US won its first world title over China. ‘Being able to do it, play a World Cup in your home country, is so special,’ she said. Hamm also remembered the surreal moments leading up to the first game, including the traffic and tailgating in the stadium parking lot.
A Unifying Force
Hamm believes that sports, particularly soccer, can bring people together like nothing else. ‘I think so much of what’s happening in the world, we focus so much on how we are different… I think these players, when they step on the field, they represent so much more than just the country in which they play,’ she offered.
The US team kicks off the tournament against Paraguay on Friday, June 12, at 9 p.m. on Fox.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
