America's Immigrant Soccer Team - WSJ Editorial
The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on President Trump’s birthright citizenship order. Win—or more likely—lose, he might take note that the success of the U.S. men’s national soccer team in this year’s World Cup is the product in part of America’s historically welcoming immigration system and automatic grant of birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S.
The U.S. team last week clinched a spot in the knockout round after defeating Australia. A quarter of its players were born outside of the U.S., including Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson and Sebastian Berhalter (U.K.), Sergiño Dest (Netherlands), Malik Tillman (Germany) and Alejandro Zendejas (Mexico).
Many players are also first- or second-generation Americans of diverse descent. Forward Haji Wright was born to a father from Ghana and mother from Liberia. Striker Ricardo Pepi’s parents immigrated from Mexico. Attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic’s grandfather was a Croatian emigrant.
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As our friend Stuart Anderson noted in a recent piece for Reason magazine, “hiring athletic talent from around the world has enhanced the quality of play and attracted more fans domestically and internationally” for U.S. soccer and other professional sports. America’s World Cup men’s team shows again how bringing in foreign talent can be a win for the individuals and for the country.
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