Tubi series highlights soccer star Weston McKennie as he preps for the World Cup

“I had people throughout my career tell me I wasn’t ready, I wasn’t good enough or I wouldn’t play at a super-high level and it was just a matter of betting on yourself,” McKennie says.

Now, as the FIFA World Cup comes to North America, there’s plenty of attention on the U.S. team and standouts like McKennie.

A Tubi documentary, “Destination World Cup 2026,” features McKennie, Marc Cucurella and Harry Wilson prepping for the event.

The six-part docuseries is a way for American viewers to see why the sport is so popular worldwide. McKennie, a standout on the U.S. Men’s National Team, has been key to boosting U.S. interest.

Back in middle and high school, “all the cool kids played basketball and football,” he says. “No one paid much attention to soccer.”

He, however, was smitten.

“Growing up in Germany, I (saw) the impact and passion behind it through different cultures’ eyes. Then, coming back to America, I continued with it because of the friendships I had made. Ultimately, I realized I had a chance in it as well and could become a professional athlete.”

McKennie got the exposure when his father was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. At age 9, the family moved back to the United States and lived in Texas, where his soccer love blossomed.

In the documentary, viewers can see it’s not all goals and cheers. McKennie goes on a three-day fast and turns down a family barbecue. “You’ll do it if you get fined for coming back overweight,” he admits.

The documentary covers those private moments, too, and what the downtime is really like.

“I told them in the beginning, you can capture whatever you want, just as long as it’s real,” McKennie says. “I said, ‘I’ll give you raw footage, but I don’t want to do any scripted stuff. Ultimately, I do feel the responsibility. I would like to think that people can relate a lot with me, so I don’t feel pressured.”

'Let's get focused'

A midfielder for Juventus and the U.S. national team, McKennie has been called the “Swiss Army knife” because he can play in most any outfield position.

With the U.S. team, he scored three goals in 13 minutes in a CONCACAF Nations League against Cuba in 2019. Two years later, he scored a 2-2 equalizer in the final against Mexico, bringing the game to extra time.

Those stellar moments, however, can land differently depending on the rest of the game.

“If you’re losing, you get your a-- back to the line as quick as possible and keep playing,” he says. “If you’re winning, or if the goal you’re making makes you win, it’s one of the better feelings you can have in the sport.

“I get excited, but it depends if you’re losing and you score. It’s a bittersweet taste. You scored? That’s amazing. But you have a little more work to do.”

McKennie says he doesn’t hear the fans unless the ball goes out of bounds.

“Then you have a moment to zone back in with reality," he says. "Once the ball is back in play, you switch again, and you’re like, ‘OK. Boom! Here it is. Let’s get focused.”

While the U.S. team isn’t considered the front-runner for this year’s trophy, “nobody is going to this World Cup with a mindset of, ‘Oh, let’s just make it out of the group stage,’" McKennie says. "You’ve got to show your best version of your team because that’s what tournaments are for.”

Coming to the United States, the World Cup could kick the sport in high gear.

“There’s no better time for it to come to America,” McKennie says. “Soccer is on the rise and growing, and people are getting more involved. There’s a better idea of what it means to people around the world.”

And McKennie? He’s in it to win it.

Family members say they’ll have a barbecue to celebrate a U.S. win.

“That’s a no-brainer,” McKennie says with a smile. “I think it’s going to be much more than a barbecue.”