Clint Dempsey: U.S. Team Needs Success For Pro-USMNT Crowds At World Cup

Clint Dempsey says success on the field during friendlies over the next year would help the U.S. fill seats with pro-American fans at the World Cup next year, a turnaround from pro-opponent crowds at this year's Concacaf Gold Cup.

U.S. men's natioanl team coach Mauricio Pochettino and current players took note that spectators were overwhelmingly rooting for Guatemala in St. Louis and Mexico in Houston.

"We were outnumbered in the games that mattered in terms of the semifinal and then final. There were more fans for the opposing team. So it’s up to the national team players to put a product on the field that makes people want to go spend their hard-earned money," Dempsey said Thursday during an interview with The Associated Press. "I think with everybody being back and having that fight and kind of mixing that together with the quality, I think that will give people motivation to go out there and support this team."

The Americans have 10 friendlies on FIFA international fixture dates, two each in September, October, November, March and June, before opening the World Cup at Inglewood, California, on June 12. They play at Seattle seven days later, then close the group stage at Inglewood on June 25.

"I want to see a team that is playing in an exciting style, whether it's defending well, building out of the back, getting forward, creating chances, getting goals," Dempsey said. "I just want to see the fight and the grit that we saw in the Gold Cup, just with more quality. That’s what I’m looking forward to, that team that gets you believing again that they can go and win games against top competition."

Dempsey, tied with Landon Donovan for the American record of 57 international goals, played for U.S. teams that were