The United States will take on Jamaica on Thursday night in Concacaf qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. You can stream the match on Paramount+. While pretty much every family member of the USMNT players will be cheering for the red, white and blue, there is one that just might be supporting the underdog Reggae Boyz.
In an interview with Luis Miguel Echegaray on CBS Sports’ “Que Golazo” podcast this week, United States and Genk defender Mark McKenzie said that he won’t hold it against his father for cheering on Jamaica, knowing that he will also be hoping for his son to do well. McKenzie’s father was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States before college, while his mother in American.
“I’m half American and half Jamaican,” McKenzie said. “I’ve got both sides of the fam. They all love me.”
But who is his father rooting for?
“Me,” McKenzie said laughing and perhaps even with a hint of uncertainty. “As a dad, I feel like he would root for his son, but at the same time, I understand. Football is a rivalry thing.”
He’s the clip:
This type of situation is always tricky and interesting, but it is hardly new. We saw something similar with Cristian Roldan as the U.S. went to El Salvador to kick off qualifying. Roldan’s mother is Salvadoran, so she was always going to be split to begin with, and she was even more so with her other son, Alex, playing for the El Salvador national team.
For McKenzie, who got the start and played 90 minutes in the last qualifying match against Honduras, it simply comes down to his dad having national pride and remembering his upbringing and roots, and there’s nothing wrong with him wanting both his country of birth and his son to do well.
Perhaps he’s settle for a draw where his son has a positive performance.
For the full interview, click here. Here are three keys to the matchup, including our projected starting lineup.
After three matches in qualifying, the U.S. is 1-2-0 and in third place, while Jamaica are last with one win and two defeats.
