It was a moment Max Arfsten will never forget.
On June 12, Arfsten walked into Sofi Stadium (renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup), located just 219 miles from his hometown of Fresno, California, as one of the 26 men selected to represent the United States at the World Cup
“I feel like when I’m there, in the moment, I don’t really think about it,” Arfsten said. “But then, after, you have a chance to reflect and you understand how awesome and amazing it is.
“This has been a big goal of mine for the past 18 months. And as much as I didn’t want to say it was World Cup or nothing, it was on my mind. So, this was a big accomplishment.”
The United States opened the tournament on home soil with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Group D play, though Arfsten remained on the bench as an unused substitute.
Arfsten received his first call-up to the USMNT in January 2025, despite never having competed internationally at the youth level. Since his first national team camp, the 25-year-old Crew defender has recorded 18 caps and six goal contributions.
With his goal of earning a World Cup roster spot checked off, the final step for Arfsten in fulfilling this dream is making his tournament debut.
“Obviously, I want to play,” Arfsten said. “I’m here, I’m training every day with these guys, and I believe I can play. So, there’s definitely anticipation, of course, just because it’s the biggest tournament in the world. … But I’m ready to go, and I’m excited for whenever the opportunity comes.”
According to Arfsten, from the day the U.S. began its official World Cup training at its base in Irvine, California, the intensity has been higher than he’s ever experienced.
The U.S. entered this tournament with “a massive point to prove,” and the way the team dominated Paraguay boosted its confidence.
“But it’s only one game, and there are two more games and we want to top the group,” Arfsten said. “The mentality of this group, and the energy ever since I got here May 26 has been that everyone’s hungry.”
Arfsten keeps his focus on the United States’ larger goals, so he is willing to accept any role he ends up playing for the team.
“What we’re doing as Team USA, it’s much bigger than just me and my aspirations,” Arfsten said. “So, I’m in a place now where I want to play. I’m going to do everything I can to play, but I’m also going to do whatever the team needs from me to contribute. And at the end of the day, if we keep winning, then I can’t really complain.”
The United States continues in the World Cup with a matchup against Australia on June 19, before finishing the group stage against Turkey on June 25.
bmackay@dispatch.com
@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why Max Arfsten says USMNT’s World Cup aspirations are ‘bigger’ than his own
Reporting by Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
