U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) must achieve success to cultivate a strong home crowd advantage during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, says American soccer legend Clint Dempsey. After observing the recent 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, where the USMNT played before predominantly Guatemalan and Mexican fans on American soil, Dempsey stressed the importance of winning to attract local support.

Dempsey told the Associated Press that the USMNT was outnumbered in the crucial games of the semifinal and final, with more fans supporting the opposing teams. He believes it is up to the national team players to deliver a product on the field that compels people to spend their money to watch them.

Dempsey highlighted the absence of key players like Christian Pulisic, who opted for rest, during the tournament. He wants to see an exciting style of play, encompassing strong defense, effective build-up from the back, attacking prowess, chance creation, and goal-scoring. More than anything, Dempsey wants to see the fight and grit displayed in the Gold Cup, but with enhanced quality, so fans can believe that the team can win against top competition.

The USMNT's journey to the Gold Cup final included wins against Haiti, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. However, most of these games lacked significant home support. In contrast, the team experienced fervent American support in Connecticut during two pre-tournament friendlies, despite losing to Switzerland and Türkiye.

Despite missing key players, the USMNT demonstrated a level of determination and desire that had been lacking in previous months. Diego Luna's performance and effort even drew comparisons to Dempsey's own playing days. Although the USMNT fell short of winning the Gold Cup, it was their second missed trophy of 2025 after losing to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals, their performance offered a significant improvement after a disappointing group stage exit under their previous head coach, Gregg Berhalter, at the 2024 Copa América.

Dempsey noted the absence of older players passing down their experience, suggesting that a shake-up was necessary after the Copa América and Nations League performances. He said that sometimes a situation requires someone to shake things up, and you never know if egos are the reason why things don't work out.

The USMNT will not have any competitive matches before the next World Cup but may play up to 10 friendlies, including four scheduled in September and October against South Korea, Japan, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Clint Dempsey, a veteran of the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups, is one of the most recognizable names in USMNT history. He was drafted by the New England Revolution in 2004 and quickly established himself as a confident and skilled player. Dempsey's talent was evident in his ability to maintain composure and demonstrate excellent ball control in challenging situations, which he proved both in the MLS and the English Premier League.

Dempsey's international career includes scoring in three different FIFA World Cups, and helping the USMNT reach its first-ever FIFA final at the 2009 Confederations Cup.