Ted Lasso delivers message of hope at World Cup amid conflict
The Guardian Sport • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 11, 2026, 12:44 PM
Last updated Jun 11, 2026

Jason Sudeikis, known for his role as Ted Lasso, is set to deliver a message of unity before the USA's opening game of the FIFA World Cup on June 11 at the Los Angeles Stadium. The event takes place during a turbulent time for the host nation, which is engaged in military action against a second-ranked country in Group G and facing criticism over its controversial immigration policies. Sudeikis' speech is positioned as a reminder of the sport's potential to unite, countering the divisive elements present in current U.S. politics. The world will watch as this message is broadcast to millions of viewers.
- •Jason Sudeikis to speak before USA's first World Cup game
- •Event held at Los Angeles Stadium on June 11
- •U.S. military actions coincide with the World Cup
- •Omar Artan barred from the tournament due to immigration policies
- •World Cup serves as a platform to promote unity
- 12:44 PMThe Guardian Sport — Welcome to Trump’s World Cup, a depressingly angry version of football uniting the planet | Barney Ronay
"Ted Lasso will deliver a message of hope before the USA’s first game, in an America that is not a fit or desirable host right now Shortly before 6pm local time on Friday night at the Los Angeles Stadium, the actor who plays Ted Lasso – the fictional manager of a fake team in a falsely heartwarming version of football – will tell hundreds of millions of TV viewers tuning in to watch the start of the American leg of the Fifa World Cup that football unites the world. In an interesting twist, the actor Jason Sudeikis will do this at a time when the World Cup host is simultaneously bombing the second-ranked country in Group G, having recently murdered its head of state. The message of unity is one likely to be heard by the US president, Donald Trump, who has initiated six military conflicts in his second term, and whose brutally divisive immigration policies have now led to the barring of Omar Artan, the reigning African referee of the year. Continue reading...
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