The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has pledged to send a soccer ball to the moon if the United States wins the 2026 FIFA World Cup, cheering on its national team.
According to AFP on Nov. 30, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman voiced his support at an event introducing plans to build a lunar base, saying, "The mission of the U.S. national team is to win the World Cup," and urging the players to "complete the mission."
Isaacman referred to the story of astronaut Alan Shepard, who in 1971 became the first person to swing a golf club on the moon. "We will outdo Alan Shepard. If the U.S. wins the World Cup, we will send a soccer ball to the moon," he said. He added, "I hope this serves as a small motivation for the U.S. national team."
Shepard drew attention at the time when, after completing his lunar exploration mission, he played golf on the moon's surface using a golf club and balls he had brought along.
Carlos Garcia Galan, NASA's lunar base program manager, also said, "If the U.S. wins the World Cup, we will make sure to find room on the spacecraft for a soccer ball." He added, "A soccer ball is light, so there is no problem with transport. Now everything depends on the U.S. men's national soccer team. Good luck."
To commemorate this World Cup, NASA sent the official match ball "Trionda" to the International Space Station (ISS). Ahead of the tournament's opening, it released a video of Trionda floating inside the ISS, helping build excitement for the event.
The United States, a co-host of this World Cup, cruised through the group stage in first place. On Wednesday, it faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.
