As the 2026 FIFA World Cup returns to North America, the stars of the United States Men's National Team — Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Tyler Adams, and others from the 2022 squad — look back on the moments that defined their time in Qatar: the goals, the heartbreaks, and the brotherhood that continues to shape them.

“There’s nothing quite like smelling that World Cup grass.”

Tim Weah says it with a smile. So do his teammates. Even four years later, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar remains vivid in their minds — the goals, the camaraderie, the laughter, the defeats, and the nights that felt like the centre of the universe.

That winter, the U.S. men’s team reintroduced itself to the world after the painful failure to qualify in 2018. For most of the 26-man squad, it was their first World Cup — and for some, perhaps their only one. But regardless of what came after, that experience became something they would carry forever.

Since then, much has changed. The coach has moved on, new players have emerged, and others have faded from view. As the World Cup returns to North American soil, the USMNT will aim for something even bigger — but nothing will ever quite match the magic of Qatar.

“Who knows how many of us will be in the same group again,” Tyler Adams reflects. “But to anyone who makes that roster, I’d say — value that time. It’s gone in a blink, and before you know it, you’re back on a plane heading home.”

Over the past few years, GOAL revisited that unforgettable campaign with the players themselves. This is their story — the goals they scored, the losses that stung, the memories that stayed, and the emotions they still chase as 2026 draws near.

The night Qatar became real

On the eve of the opening match against Wales, coach Gregg Berhalter gathered the team in a circle. Before a single ball was kicked, he wanted them to understand what they had already achieved.

“He told us each of us had been given a number representing our place in U.S. World Cup history,” recalls Walker Zimmerman. “I was number 152 — the 152nd player to ever represent the U.S. at a World Cup.”

That number carried weight. It reminded the players how rare and special this moment was — a bond shared among a select few across generations.

For Adams, Pulisic, and Weston McKennie, who had grown up together in the youth system, it was the culmination of years of shared struggle. “Those are the best memories,” Adams says. “Getting to that stage together means more than anything.”

When the matches began, everything accelerated. “It was so fast,” Tim Ream remembers. “Games at 10 PM, late nights, weird schedules. We were living in a bubble.”

Josh Sargent worked with a mental coach to stay grounded. “It was stressful,” he says, “but I tried to take deep breaths and be grateful.”

Three group games in eight days — Wales, England, and Iran — blurred together. “It felt like a fever dream,” says Haji Wright. “It went by so fast.”

For Joe Scally, who didn’t play, it was still life-changing. “A World Cup is the biggest thing in sports,” he says. “It lit a fire under me to be ready next time.”

Scoring on the world’s biggest stage

Before Qatar 2022, only 22 American men had ever scored in a World Cup. Three more joined that list: Tim Weah, Christian Pulisic, and Haji Wright.

Weah was the first, scoring the opener against Wales from Pulisic’s assist. “I’d dreamt of that goal for years,” he says. “When it happened, it was everything I’d imagined — and more.”

Pulisic followed, netting the decisive goal against Iran that sent the U.S. into the knockouts. He paid a heavy price, colliding with goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and injuring his pelvis. “I didn’t get to celebrate properly,” Pulisic recalls. “But I wouldn’t change it. That moment was worth it.”

Haji Wright’s strike came against the Netherlands in the Round of 16 — a flicked finish that briefly gave the U.S. hope before a 3–1 defeat. “It was surreal,” Wright says. “But the emotions hit hard after. Scoring was incredible, but losing made it bittersweet.”

Social media has kept those memories alive. “Seeing the fans’ reactions back home was amazing,” Weah says. “It showed how much it meant to everyone.”

Inside the USMNT’s Qatar bubble

Veteran DeAndre Yedlin, the only player with previous World Cup experience, made sure his teammates paused to appreciate the moment. “We’re entertainers at the end of the day,” he says. “But it’s important to find peace and perspective.”

The players bonded inside their hotel — the Marsa Malaz Kempinski at The Pearl in Doha. It became their sanctuary: ping-pong, movies, and endless hours in the Players’ Lounge. “We connected like never before,” says Adams. “It was our little world.”

“Sean Johnson and Yedlin had this crazy style of pool,” Zimmerman laughs. “You remember those moments off the field.”

Yunus Musah later revisited the hotel. “It felt like reliving it all,” he says. “The smells, the memories — it was the best experience ever.”

Family, faith, and connection

Walker Zimmerman remembers looking up at the family section before the first match. “That’s where the real story was,” he says. “All the people who sacrificed to get us here.”

Players shared time with loved ones between matches, creating memories that transcended football. “It brought us all closer,” Weah says. “Meeting each other’s families made it special.”

Cristian Roldan now finds motivation in his daughter. “I want her to watch me play,” he says. “That’s what drives me now.”

For Sebastian Berhalter, watching his father coach in Qatar was unforgettable. “It was surreal — seeing him on that stage,” he says.

Gio Reyna’s complicated World Cup

For Gio Reyna, Qatar was a turning point — not for glory, but for growth. Limited by injuries and caught in controversy over his role, his World Cup became a lesson in maturity. “We were young and inexperienced,” he reflects. “I learned a lot. The next time, I just want to help the team any way I can.”

His story was messy — the fallout with coach Berhalter and the Reyna family’s off-field revelations made headlines. But time has brought perspective, and both sides have moved on.

The ones who missed out

Some players never got their chance. Miles Robinson missed out with an Achilles injury. “I was cheering for the boys from outside,” he says. “I needed that energy.”

Chris Richards, sidelined by a hamstring injury, admits it was painful. “Watching from London was lonely,” he says. “It felt like my dream was ripped away.”

Mark McKenzie wasn’t selected at all. “It broke me,” he admits. “But it gave me perspective — made me realise what I needed to improve.”

Life after Qatar

When Adams returned home, he felt the difference. “People recognised me in New York,” he says. “It hit me how much things had changed.”

Now, with 2026 on the horizon, the pressure is even greater. The U.S. won’t just be competitors this time — they’ll be hosts. “It’s an amazing feeling, but also a responsibility,” says Weston McKennie. “We want to show the next generation that there’s a path — to believe in yourself.”

For the 2022 squad, Qatar remains sacred — a moment frozen in time. “It’s hard to replicate that feeling,” says Wright. “You spend your whole career chasing it.”

Matt Turner agrees. “That’s why I want to get back there,” he says. “I really want that feeling again.”