The last thing U.S. players see before taking the field at Al-Gharafa Stadium, the Americans' World Cup training base in Doha, is the slogan "Be the Change" in bold letters on the wall of the tunnel leading from the locker room.
The team adopted the motto two years ago, following George Floyd's death under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer and the subsequent rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. But it has taken on new importance in Qatar, where the government has been roundly criticized for its treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ community in the run-up to this month's World Cup.
"We've been talking to the team for the last 18 months about some social issues in Qatar. When we are on the world stage and you're in a venue like Qatar, it's important to bring awareness to these issues," coach Gregg Berhalter said. "That's what 'Be the Change' is about. It's not just stateside that we want to bring attention to social issues.
