WSJ editorial board says US World Cup team shows how immigration ‘can be a win

Media WSJ editorial board says US World Cup team shows how immigration ‘can be a win Comments: by Dominick Mastrangelo - 06/23/26 1:46 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Dominick Mastrangelo - 06/23/26 1:46 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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The Wall Street Journal editorial board is celebrating the U.S. men’s national team, which is comprised of a number of immigrants or the children of immigrants.

“The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on President Trump’s birthright citizenship order. Win — or more likely — lose, he might take note that the success of the U.S. men’s national soccer team in this year’s World Cup is the product in part of America’s historically welcoming immigration system and automatic grant of birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S.” the board wrote in an editorial published Monday.

A quarter of Team USA players were born outside of the U.S., the Journal noted, calling out Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson and Sebastian Berhalter from England, Sergiño Dest from the Netherlands, Malik Tillman from Germany and Alejandro Zendejas from Mexico by name.

“Star striker Folarin Balogun, who scored two goals in the opening game victory over Paraguay, was born in Brooklyn in 2001 to a Nigerian mother visiting New York from London. Two months later she returned with him to the U.K. where he grew up,” the newspaper continued.

“Under Mr. Trump’s birthright citizenship order, he wouldn’t have automatically received U.S. citizenship since his mom was a temporary visitor. He may not have been eligible for the U.S. team,” the board added.

The editorial also cast doubt on the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration agenda.

“America’s World Cup men’s team shows again how bringing in foreign talent can be a win for the individuals and for the country,” the editorial board wrote.

The Journal is owned by conservative media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, a figure that the president has feuded with for years.