Clint Dempsey invokes broken nose, heart procedures to show how much playing for USMNT in World Cup meant

Every subordinate representing their state successful nan 2026 FIFA World Cup will do immoderate it takes to spot triumph connected nan world’s biggest shape successful soccer.

For nan United States men’s nationalist squad (USMNT), it intends a small spot much being that nan World Cup will beryllium played connected location ungraded this summer.

All 26 men who was announced to nan charismatic roster cognize what’s astatine stake, arsenic nan location fans are fresh to cheer for nan Stars and Stripes successful an opportunity of a life for these players. In turn, Clint Dempsey, a three-time World Cup subordinate pinch nan USMNT, believes this group will do what he did connected this shape during his playing days.

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United States guardant Clint Dempsey plays against Belgium during nan information of 16 lucifer astatine nan 2014 World Cup astatine Arena Fonte Nova. Belgium defeated nan U.S. 2-1 successful overtime. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

"As you tin see, I’ve already gave my nose. Broke that. I’ve already travel backmost from 2 bosom procedures to effort to suffice for 2018 [World Cup]. There’s a batch of sacrifices group make to correspond their country. I deliberation there’s nary greater honor," Dempsey told Fox News Digital, while highlighting his activity arsenic a mentor for nan "Abbott Dream Team," a programme from world wellness leader Abbott and shot nine Real Madrid.

During nan 2014 World Cup, Dempsey was deed successful nan face, and humor rushed from his chemoreceptor which he suspected to beryllium broken. He was correct, but that wasn’t figured retired until aft nan match.

Dempsey, nan team’s captain, led by illustration arsenic he played done nan symptom during nan U.S. triumph complete Ghana, 2-1. He scored nan first extremity conscionable 34 seconds into nan match, and it didn’t matter an accidental shin deed him quadrate successful nan face. He wasn’t leaving nan pitch.

Then, Dempsey underwent 2 abstracted bosom procedures to lick an irregular heartbeat. The U.S. didn’t suffice for nan World Cup successful 2018, but Dempsey tried his hardest to get backmost into that azygous to correspond his country.

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After all, it has ever been his dream to play successful nan World Cup for his nation, and moreover if he had done that already 3 times, he was going to do his champion to play again.

"As a kid , that’s what I prayed astir erstwhile I went to slumber – playing for my state and playing successful World Cups," he added.

For immoderate connected nan USMNT, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, this will beryllium their 2nd clip having nan privilege of doing so. For others for illustration Ricardo Pepi, Alex Zendejas and Sebastian Berhalter, their dreams will beryllium fulfilled connected June 12 against Paraguay astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, California.

Clint Dempsey of nan United States receives curen for a chemoreceptor wounded during nan 2014 FIFA World Cup Group G lucifer against Ghana astatine Estadio das Dunas successful Natal, Brazil, connected June 16, 2014. (Alex Livesey/FIFA/Getty Images)

But it’s overmuch much than conscionable stepping ft connected that writer and taking connected countries from astir nan globe. The opportunity to constitute this USMNT into nan history books, connected location soil, is ever coming for nan 26 men embarking connected this World Cup journey.

Dempsey knows this group has what it takes to make a run, and he besides has complete religion they will return pridefulness successful their state and usage nan location fans to their advantage conscionable for illustration he would.

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While it’s astir nan emotion of nan game, nan World Cup is besides a showcase of tremendous pridefulness successful wherever personification comes from. For Dempsey, patriotism runs deep, and ever will.

"I was connected nan podcast nan different time pinch Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, and I deliberation there’s nary truer point to opportunity than they were talking about, ‘If you were pinch a nine team, what nine squad would you person picked among each nan teams you were with?’ I was like, ‘How astir we put it for illustration this, if you were going to hide maine successful a coffin, what jersey would I have? It would beryllium nan U.S. jersey,’" he said.

"So, that lets you cognize really I consciousness astir representing my state and really overmuch that meant to me."

THE ABBOTT DREAM TEAM

For nan 2nd consecutive year, Dempsey is helping Abbott and Real Madrid pinch nan "Abbott Dream Team," a programme encouraging young shot players aged 18-19 passim nan U.S. to participate successful a once-in-a-lifetime improvement acquisition pinch 1 of nan champion shot clubs successful nan world successful Madrid.

Selected participants will beryllium training pinch Real Madrid’s coaches astatine nan team’s facilities, while bask unsocial experiences for illustration attending a lucifer astatine Bernabéu Stadium and gathering immoderate squad legends. Abbott’s wellness experts and Real Madrid’s aesculapian squad will besides proceed providing those players pinch nan latest advancements successful sports wellness and nutrition, helping them amended understand their bodies, build healthier habits, and scope their highest capacity connected and disconnected nan pitch.

Clint Dempsey looks connected earlier nan Concacaf Nations League semifinal lucifer betwixt nan United States and Panama astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, Calif., connected March 20, 2025. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)

"It’s awesome, man. Any clip you tin springiness backmost and springiness kids nan opportunity to pursuit their dreams, that’s what it’s each about," Dempsey said astir his domiciled successful this. "I person kids of my own, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to thief them execute their dreams, return them to each their shot practices, and springiness them nan champion chance imaginable to do thing great. This is 1 of those things wherever you person a tryout, you person Real Madrid coaches present watching you, and nary matter what, you return thing distant from this experience.

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"Just being here, letting [the players] cognize this is important, and I’m proud of them for betting connected themselves and putting themselves retired location to moreover effort retired for thing for illustration this."

Other than Dempsey, Real Madrid fable Marcelo will besides subordinate this year’s Abbott Dream Team arsenic a mentor.

Tryouts person already taken spot successful Miami, Washington, D.C. and Houston, wherever Dempsey was connected Wednesday morning. There are still tryouts group for Kansas City (June 2), Los Angeles (June 4) and Chicago (June 9).

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