Tyler Adams Says Becoming a Dad Changed How He Handles Pressure Ahead of the World Cup (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

• Tyler Adams tells PEOPLE how becoming a father has helped him separate soccer from home life and manage pressure better
• The former U.S. men’s national team captain hopes the 2026 World Cup inspires more kids to pursue soccer in America
• Adams advocates for natural grass fields, saying they are better for athletes’ recovery and long-term physical health

When Tyler Adams thinks about the pressure surrounding this summer’s World Cup, his mind doesn’t immediately go to stadiums, fans or even soccer. It goes to home.

As the U.S. men’s national team prepares to compete on home soil during the 2026 World Cup, Adams says becoming a father (to two sons, born in January 2024 and October 2025) has dramatically reshaped the way he approaches both pressure and perspective.

The midfielder, who captained Team USA during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and became the youngest U.S. captain at the tournament since 1950, says family life now serves as a constant reminder not to let the highs and lows of the sport consume him.

“When you come home and you have a bad day or an amazing day, your kids don’t ask you how soccer was,” Adams tells PEOPLE exclusively while taking about his partnership with Scotts. “You come home and they’re saying, ‘Let’s go for a bike ride or let’s go outside and play.’ ”

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The 26-year-old says learning how to mentally separate soccer from life off the field has helped him become more present and more confident as a player. Instead of overanalyzing performances or carrying pressure home with him, Adams says he now focuses on trusting the work he’s already put in.

That mindset shift, he explains, has helped him grow both personally and professionally as anticipation builds for the upcoming tournament in North America. Looking back at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Adams admits he didn’t fully appreciate the magnitude of the moment while it was happening.

“I think ultimately that’s what has allowed me on the field to really take another level and another step, because I’m not putting an immense amount of pressure on myself,” he says. “I just know what I’m capable of and I kind of get in that rhythm and in that mindset and I’m able to go to work.”

Now preparing for another World Cup appearance — this time on American soil — Adams says he hopes the tournament leaves a lasting impact on the future of soccer in the United States.

Growing up, Adams idolized Thierry Henry and remembers attending New York Red Bulls games with his mom whenever the soccer legend came to town following his runs with Arsenal and Barcelona. Years later, Adams would follow a similar path himself, first joining the Red Bulls before eventually making the leap to Europe; he currently plays for AFC Bournemouth.

“We look at it as an opportunity to really grow the game even more,” Adams says. “If the team is successful, then kids around the country will look at us and say, ‘I wanna be the next us.’ ”

Beyond the excitement surrounding the tournament, Adams also hopes the increased attention on soccer will continue fueling conversations around player safety — particularly when it comes to the ongoing debate surrounding artificial turf versus natural grass.

Having dealt with injuries throughout his own career, Adams says professional athletes immediately feel the difference between the two surfaces physically, especially when it comes to recovery and joint strain.

“No professional athlete will ever come up to you and say they’d rather play on artificial surfaces,” he says. “Playing on natural grass has a bigger benefit for your body, for your joints, for your recovery.”

Despite the pressure surrounding the tournament in the weeks ahead, Adams says he has no doubt American fans will rise to the occasion.

“If there’s one thing Americans know how to do, it’s when they host an event, they go all out,” he says. “I think it’s gonna be an amazing event.”

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