The World Cup is taking place right now at stadiums across North America, and maybe it’s the home field advantage, but the United States team hasn’t been this much fun to watch since, well, the last time America hosted the world’s greatest soccer tournament 32 years ago. Their attacking style of play and constant pressure, a hallmark of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, makes it feel like they are on the verge of scoring at any moment. Just ask Paraguay, the defense-minded team that the US popped four on in the opening match.
As you are reading this, the US team is set to play Australia, coincidentally around the same time Australian born Jak Michael Ryan is set to take the stage at the 2026 US Barista Championship, and one stipulation for him competing is that he should have to, out loud, declare America as his rooting interest in the match. America wins and they’re guaranteed to make it out of group play; indeed, even a draw will likely punch their ticket under the new expanded World Cup format.
There’s another theory to why the US team is so exciting this year. And the reason behind it is coffee. The team is jacked to the teeth on the good stuff thanks to defender Joe Scally, who is pulling a double as the team’s resident barista.
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The frankly breaking news came initially via ESPN2, where reporter Sam Borden describes the USMNT’s California home base, including a “really elaborate coffee bar set up.” That could of course mean a million different things. My aunt thinks her coffee setup is really elaborate but it’s a Keurig that she uses reusable pods with.
Thus a little extra digging into the Bundesliga’s Borussia Mönchengladbach defenseman was warranted. In a separate video, this one posted by USMNT, Scally takes the crew into his home, where he describes how he starts his day. In it, he states that “the best part of his day” is making coffee. He says this as he is walking past his coffee counter, and through precision pausing skills, we were able to determine that Scally is rocking a La Marzocco Linea Micra and Pico grinder combination.
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It is unclear what gear Scally brought with him to the Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine where the team will be stationed over the course of their tenure at this year’s World Cup, but one can’t help but assume the espresso machine made the trip. I mean, you take a hand grinder for a weekend trip; what would you bring if it were a full month?
We have reached out directly to Scally to learn more, though he may be too buys kicking the world’s ass at soccer to reply right now. But we will keep you posted on this rather significant development within the US contingent playing the beautiful game.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
