Team USA has advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup on home soil, with many calling this group of players the “golden generation.” For Auston Trusty, this moment is the culmination of a dream that started years ago in his backyard. “I was dribbling around my house whenever I could,” Trusty said. Now, he is representing his country on soccer’s biggest stage. “Football is called the beautiful game because it brings so many people together, and it’s probably the number one universal language in the entire world,” Trusty said. Trusty, from Riddlewood, Pennsylvania, has been chasing this moment his whole life. “Since I was 3 years old, trying to play in a World Cup for the United States of America,” he said. Growing up in a small sports town where soccer wasn’t the focal point, Trusty had to find ways to nurture his passion. “We only played lacrosse, basketball, baseball and wiffle ball, but we never played soccer, so I had to bribe my brother Ethan,” he said. “To play 30 minutes of lacrosse with him and 30 minutes of soccer with me,” Trusty added. “In that 30 minutes, that’s my trait, so I be kicking it. I didn’t even have a goal. I kick that ball in the bush every single day until I actually killed the bush,” he said. Trusty eventually turned down a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Carolina to pursue a professional soccer career, starting with the MLS team Philadelphia Union. “Then to Colorado, then from Colorado to a major jump to one of the biggest clubs in the world Arsenal,” he said. He eventually landed at Celtic FC, all while keeping his dream of making the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team alive. “I think my teammates know that I show up in the biggest moments, and I have proven it day in and day out,” Trusty said. “I think a lot of us are at this point in our careers where we are truly, truly confident in our abilities and have proven it to ourselves, which is the most important, but also proven it to other people, but proven it to the world in terms of the football world,” he said. Trusty has been steadily building chemistry with his teammates over time. “I grew up playing with Christian, Tyler, Weston, Haji. So we all had so many good relationships with each other. So we really know each other, how we play,” he said. “The cohesiveness and the chemistry we have with each other, it’s amazing,” Trusty added. With one goal in mind, Trusty said, “The goal is to win the World Cup.” He knows the opportunity to play for his country in a home World Cup is rare. “The chances of playing for your country on a home World Cup, that is very, very small chances,” he said. From kicking a ball into the bushes to chasing a World Cup on home soil, Auston Trusty’s dream has come full circle.Trusty made his world cup debut against Australia and scored his first goal against Turkey in the final game of the group stage.
Team USA has advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup on home soil, with many calling this group of players the “golden generation.” For Auston Trusty, this moment is the culmination of a dream that started years ago in his backyard.
“I was dribbling around my house whenever I could,” Trusty said.
Now, he is representing his country on soccer’s biggest stage.
“Football is called the beautiful game because it brings so many people together, and it’s probably the number one universal language in the entire world,” Trusty said.
Trusty, from Riddlewood, Pennsylvania, has been chasing this moment his whole life.
“Since I was 3 years old, trying to play in a World Cup for the United States of America,” he said.
Growing up in a small sports town where soccer wasn’t the focal point, Trusty had to find ways to nurture his passion.
“We only played lacrosse, basketball, baseball and wiffle ball, but we never played soccer, so I had to bribe my brother Ethan,” he said.
“To play 30 minutes of lacrosse with him and 30 minutes of soccer with me,” Trusty added.
“In that 30 minutes, that’s my trait, so I be kicking it. I didn’t even have a goal. I kick that ball in the bush every single day until I actually killed the bush,” he said.
Trusty eventually turned down a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Carolina to pursue a professional soccer career, starting with the MLS team Philadelphia Union.
“Then to Colorado, then from Colorado to a major jump to one of the biggest clubs in the world Arsenal,” he said.
He eventually landed at Celtic FC, all while keeping his dream of making the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team alive.
“I think my teammates know that I show up in the biggest moments, and I have proven it day in and day out,” Trusty said.
“I think a lot of us are at this point in our careers where we are truly, truly confident in our abilities and have proven it to ourselves, which is the most important, but also proven it to other people, but proven it to the world in terms of the football world,” he said.
Trusty has been steadily building chemistry with his teammates over time.
“I grew up playing with Christian, Tyler, Weston, Haji. So we all had so many good relationships with each other. So we really know each other, how we play,” he said.
“The cohesiveness and the chemistry we have with each other, it’s amazing,” Trusty added.
With one goal in mind, Trusty said, “The goal is to win the World Cup.”
He knows the opportunity to play for his country in a home World Cup is rare.
“The chances of playing for your country on a home World Cup, that is very, very small chances,” he said.
From kicking a ball into the bushes to chasing a World Cup on home soil, Auston Trusty’s dream has come full circle.
Trusty made his world cup debut against Australia and scored his first goal against Turkey in the final game of the group stage.
