I worked with the USMNT. This is the biggest mental challenge of the World Cup

Travis Thomas, who served as the leadership and team dynamics coach for the US Men's National Team during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, reflects on the mental challenges of tournament football. He highlights the high-pressure match against Iran, where the USMNT needed a win to advance from their group while Iran only required a draw. Thomas discusses the psychological demands placed on players, including an additional controversy involving altered national flag imagery posted by US Soccer on social media.