Joe Scally makes FIFA World Cup debut in Seattle as USMNT faces Australia
The 23-year-old Bundesliga defender finally gets his World Cup moment after being named to the 2022 roster without seeing the field
Joe Scally stepped onto the pitch in Seattle on June 19 for his first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance, starting for the US Men’s National Team against Australia in the group stage of the 2026 tournament. For a player who sat on the 2022 World Cup roster without playing a single minute, this was the kind of moment that turns patience into payoff.
The 23-year-old Borussia Mönchengladbach defender earned his spot in the 26-player squad announced in May 2026, and head coach Gregg Berhalter’s staff clearly felt confident enough in Scally’s development to give him meaningful minutes on home soil. Seattle, one of the host cities for the first-ever three-nation World Cup, provided the backdrop for what could become a defining chapter in Scally’s international career.
From Long Island to the Bundesliga to the World Cup
Born on December 31, 2002, in Lake Grove, New York, he came up through the New York City FC academy before making the transatlantic leap that increasingly defines the best young US players.
He joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in January 2021, arriving in Germany as an 18-year-old. He was included in the 2022 World Cup squad at 19, a nod to his potential even if he didn’t see the field in Qatar.
The significance of a home World Cup debut
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first tournament co-hosted by three nations, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico sharing duties across venues in all three countries.
US Soccer had been highlighting Scally in the lead-up to the tournament, a signal that the federation views him as a key piece of the program’s future. His versatility as a defender who can operate on either flank makes him a tactical asset in a tournament where squad depth matters as much as starting eleven quality.
Scally’s inclusion in both the 2022 and 2026 squads illustrates the value of patience in international football. Players who make a World Cup roster at 19 don’t always make the next one at 23. The fact that Scally not only returned to the squad but earned actual playing time speaks to consistent growth at the club level translating to international opportunity.