Mauricio Pochettino throws a ceremonial first pitch in Seattle and uses Independence Day to mark the 250th anniversary while the US men's national soccer team prepares for a World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium.The 26-man roster includes six players born abroad and nearly half the squad are dual nationals or have immigrant backgrounds, a mix Captain Tim Ream describes as a melting pot and that immigration advocates point to as evidence of inclusion.Players such as
Folarin Balogun,
Weston McKennie,
Sergino Dest,
Cristian Pulisic and
Matt Turner embody those origins as the coaching staff balances national symbolism with daily training in pursuit of a quarterfinal berth and a knockout win on home soil.