Long Island Native To Play On U.S. Men's World Cup Soccer Team

LAKE GROVE, NY — Joe Scally, a native of Lake Grove, is set to represent the United States in the World Cup.

Scally, 19, who plays for the Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, was announced as a member of the U.S. Men's National Team for the 2022 World Cup roster on Wednesday. Scally is a right-back.

Team USA's first World Cup match is scheduled for Nov. 21 against Wales in a Group B showdown.

Scally played for three seasons with New York City FC in Major League Soccer before joining Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he is in his third season.

Scally attended Sachem High School North. As a freshman, he once took a social studies final before heading to Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, where he made his professional soccer debut for New York City FC.

Frank Schmidt, a team trainer for the Sachem Destroyers, recalled watching an 11-year-old Scally and knowing he had a special talent, according to Schmidt's interview with Front Row Soccer.

Schmidt told the outlet in January 2021 that he was excited for Scally when it was announced he was going to play for Borussia Mönchengladbach.

“I’m getting chills as you as you say [he is headed to Borussia Mönchengladbach]," Schmidt told Front Row Soccer. "It is unbelievable. … NYCFC was a good prep for him. He got to train with David [Villa] and high-level players. He is in a different ballpark [in Germany], different level of competition. It’s cut-throat from everything I read and see.”

This year's U.S. Men's World Cup roster marks the first time the squad includes more than one teenager on the roster, though Gio Reyna will turn 20 on Saturday and Yunus Musah will do so on Nov. 29, the day of the USA’s final group stage match against Iran.

The World Cup is being hosted by Qatar from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18.