Former U.S. men's national team star Jermaine Jones is making headlines again, but this time it's not for a stunning strike on the pitch. The 44-year-old soccer icon, known for his curling equalizer against Portugal in the 2014 World Cup, has taken to social media with a direct appeal to President Donald Trump.
With the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup generating massive buzz across the country, Jones sees an opportunity for a major shift in American soccer culture. His request? Two bold changes that would reshape the sport in the United States.
Jones's Public Plea to the President
In a post that quickly went viral, Jones wrote: "Hearing Trump talk about how much he loves sports has given me hope. Maybe he’ll finally rename soccer to football and bring promotion and relegation to the U.S. Let's go!!!"
The former midfielder, who played for clubs like Schalke and Borussia Mönchengladbach, has long been an advocate for aligning American soccer with global standards. His call to rename the sport taps into a debate that's as old as the game itself in the U.S.
American Football Fans Push Back
Not everyone is on board with Jones's vision. Fans of the NFL and college football quickly flooded social media with their objections. One fan fired back: "In a month when football (NFL) season starts, this FIFA World Cup will be long forgotten…"
Another doubled down: "No, the rest of the world knows what we mean when we say soccer. We already have football. I will die on the hills of its soccer and we should never change to metric."
The sentiment was echoed by many who see the term "soccer" as a proud American tradition. "We call it soccer and will always call it soccer. Now promotion relegation we need to get on board with that for sure. But it’s called soccer," one fan added.
Even some soccer purists defended the term. "Soccer ⚽️ is a historical term. Maybe not as wide spread as football ⚽️ but definitely the term has its roots in the beautiful game," another commenter noted.
A Broader Conversation About U.S. Soccer
Jones's request comes amid a growing debate about the future of American soccer. While the U.S. men's team has made strides on the international stage, including their Round of 16 exit to Belgium in 2026, many believe the sport's growth is hindered by a closed league system and cultural identity issues.
Promotion and relegation, a staple of soccer leagues worldwide, would allow lower-division teams to climb into Major League Soccer based on performance. Currently, MLS operates as a closed league, similar to other American professional sports.
Whether President Trump will respond to Jones's request remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the conversation around American soccer is heating up, and a World Cup legend is leading the charge.
