Rob Gronkowski Blames NFL for Team USA’s Soccer Struggles

Rob Gronkowski believes if America's best athletes played soccer, they would be more successful on the International stage.

Rob Gronkowski Blames NFL for Team USA’s Soccer Struggles

Christian Pulisic and Rob Gronkowski inside the circle (Image via Yardbarker/X)

The USA national soccer men’s team has historically underachieved compared to the women’s team, four-time World Champions. The question now arises: why can’t the men’s team emulate the same kind of success? Rob Gronkowski believes he knows the answer.

While appearing on former NFL WR Chad Ochocinco Johnson’s podcast, The Late Run, Gronk blamed the NFL for overshadowing soccer in the US.

I think football, our football in America, kind of ruined our soccer game… because all our best athletes play the game of American football. If we didn’t have American football, I believe that Team USA would be a top-three team in the world.

Rob Gronkowski said

Back in March, Johnson stirred up a major conversation by claiming the USA can dominate soccer if the best athletes started playing the sport.

We dominate not only here, but we dominate Europe if our best didn’t choose basketball, baseball and football [American Football].

Johnson said via GiveMeSport

On a March 2025 episode of the Nightcap podcast, Johnson explained why he encourages his kids to play soccer before transitioning to any other sport.

I’m telling ’em to play soccer simply for the foundation of having your footwork together… If you start soccer early like I did, it creates a certain fundamental discipline that other sports can’t teach.

Johnson told co-host and Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe
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A brief walkthrough of USMNT’s World Cup 2026 adventure

USA is one of the three hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with Canada and Mexico. Cities such as Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco, Seattle, New Jersey, and Los Angeles are hosting matches on US soil.

Rob Gronkowski Blames NFL for Team USA's Soccer Struggles
Christian Pulisic (Image via Yardbarker)

USA kicked off its WC adventure by facing CONMEBOL nation Paraguay at LA Stadium. An own-goal, a brace from forward Folarin Balogun, and a 98th-minute strike from substitute Giovanni Reyna sealed a 4-1 victory for the stars and stripes.

In game two, they took on the men from down under in Seattle. Australia’s Cameron Burgess‘ unfortunate own goal gave the USA the lead. A first WC goal from Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman’s son, Alex, secured a second victory and confirmed safe passage into the knockout stages.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino rested several starters in the final group stage fixture against Turkiye, who had lost both of their games. USA took an early lead through a third-minute strike from Auston Trusty. However, Real Madrid’s Arda Guler levelled the scores for Turkiye seven minutes later.

Turkiye silenced the crowd inside the LA stadium by taking the lead through Bans Alper Yilmaz. Sebastian Berhalter restored parity when the game restarted after the half-time break.

The US piled on the pressure on their opponents in the final moments. As a result, it left open space in their half of the field. Just when it seemed the game would end in a draw, Kaan Ayhan finished off a smart Turkiye attack to hand his team a 3-2 victory.

USA still finished at the top of Group D, with the Aussies taking the second automatic qualification spot ahead of Paraguay on goal difference. Paraguay also qualified as the best third-place side (a new method introduced this year by FIFA).

In the round of 32, the USA will face off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco. Bosnia finished third in Group B, behind Switzerland and Canada.  

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