On of USA’s greatest ever players, Landon Donovan, has defended his decision to show support for his team’s arch-rivals, Mexico, in an advert during the World Cup.
In the ad for Wells Fargo, Donovan appears with a scarf that reads “My other team is Mexico”. A number of former US players criticized Donovan’s actions. Taylor Twellman, who is now an analyst for ESPN, said “I’d rather cut off my own toe” than support Mexico. The US is not at Russia 2018 after crashing out in qualifying.
Donovan was brought up in southern California, speaks Spanish and has played domestic football in Mexico. On Sunday, he posted a message to Twitter defending his decision and cited the political tension between the US and Mexico.
— Landon Donovan (@landondonovan) June 17, 2018
“To begin, my heart bleeds red, white and blue and no one should ever question my allegiance to and support of US Soccer and its national teams,” Donovan wrote. “That being said, having grown up east of Los Angeles playing with Mexican teammates whose passion for futbol inspired me at a very young age, as well as recently with Club Leon in Liga MX, I always have had a strong connection and respect for our neighbor.
“Since the USMNT sadly is not participating in the 2018 World Cup, I am supportive of our CONCACAF rivals and would like to see them do well. If others disagree that is their prerogative; but similar to how the US Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association and the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol joined together in the United Bid to bring the 2026 World Cup to North America, I believe in supporting each other and building bridges, not barriers.”
Donovan is tied with Clint Dempsey as the US men’s national team’s all-time leading scorer, with 57 goals in 157 appearances. He was controversially left out of the US squad for the 2014 World Cup and played his last international later that year.
The Guardian US has also put its support behind Mexico at this year’s World Cup. El Tri caused a huge upset on Sunday when they beat reigning champions Germany 1-0 in their opening game.
