Megan Rapinoe says the U.S. men’s national team had positive momentum and a strong “vibe” ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but that it changed after U.S. President Donald Trump became involved. In comments reported by Yahoo Sports and Fox News, Rapinoe argues that Trump’s involvement disrupted the team’s “underdog” feel and affected how the squad performed as the tournament progressed.
Both outlets connect her remarks to the period surrounding the team’s loss to Belgium. Fox News adds that Rapinoe specifically links the shift in atmosphere to the run-up to that defeat, saying it “threw them off.” Yahoo Sports similarly frames her criticism around a decline in momentum after Trump’s involvement.
Neither source provides details about what actions Trump took in the World Cup process, and there is no independent assessment of the cause-and-effect link. The reporting instead focuses on Rapinoe’s personal critique of how the team’s environment shifted during the competition.
