Gregg Berhalter looked at his smartphone and announced "Showtime".
"Are you ready?" asked the coach of the American national soccer team.
"It says POTUS," he said, looking at the incoming call.
And POTUS stands for: President of the United States.
So US President Joe Biden was on the line.
"Coach, bring me, I'm ready to play," the 80-year-old Biden opened the conversation in a good mood.
Berhalter had turned the volume up so everyone could hear it.
Which also meant that Biden's request for action initially caused great amusement among players and coaches.
"I know guys you're the underdogs," Biden continued, "but you have some of the best players in the world on your team and you represent this country.
I know you will give everything.
So go out there and shock them all."
The whole country will cheer for them.
For the Americans, the soccer World Cup in Qatar begins this Monday with the game against Wales (8 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the soccer World Cup as well as on ZDF and Magenta TV).
On Friday, former Germany legionnaire Berhalter and his team will meet England.
The last group opponent on Tuesday next week is Iran.