World Cup: Team USA's Joe Scally and his close ties with former Long Island soccer coach Frank Schmidt

IRVINE, Calif. — Frank Schmidt was ecstatic that the family of U.S. men's national team defender Joe Scally got him and his son Jeff complimentary tickets for a World Cup warm-up match in Chicago on June 6.

But he wasn't ready for a surprise after the 2-1 loss to Germany at Soldier Field.

Scally gave him his game jersey. The Lake Grove native could have traded it with a German player, since the 23-year-old defender plays in the Bundesliga, and swapping shirts after matches is a long-time soccer tradition.

But he had other ideas; he gave it to Schmidt.

"He was my first coach," Scally said recently at the U.S. men's national team's World Cup training facility at the Great Parks Sports Complex. "He coached with my mom, so he means a lot to me. He's the one who built my foundation as a player, taught me the game, taught me how to play. We worked together for a long time. So, of course, he's special to me, special to my family. It was a nice moment to give that jersey to him."

It was an emotional moment for Schmidt, who had forged a reputation as one of the best boys soccer coaches on Long Island during a 31-year career at Sachem High School, winning two state championships and 11 Suffolk County titles.

"I did the best I could to hold back tears," Schmidt said. "My eyes filled up a little bit, but nothing came down my cheek. I was very, very touched. Definitely speechless. It was just a very, very sweet gesture on his part."

Schmidt brought the sweaty jersey back to his son's apartment in Chicago. He washed it, but did not dry it. Later, he tried it on at home.

"I took that jersey off as fast as I could because it was a trim fit," he said. "It was for a young, studly athlete, not for someone who's carrying a bit of a belly."

Scally also gave Schmidt the jersey he wore at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which he had framed.

When he first saw Scally as an 11-year-old on the Sachem Destroyers (Long Island Junior Soccer League) in 2014, Schmidt realized he was coaching a player who possessed skill well beyond his age.

Schmidt wasn’t merely impressed. He was amazed at what an 11-year-old could accomplish.

"He was different in so many ways," he said. "His soccer intelligence, his athletic intelligence. He just saw the game way beyond his years. It just helps him to make better decisions. I'm trying to be humble. I didn't have to feed him much. I was focused with all the players, trying to get them to make good decisions and to understand the game. But for him, it was just keep sharpening his skills.”

Scally's primary role was as an attacker, but he demonstrated his versatility by playing any position but goalkeeper.

"It's one thing to make decisions but if you don't have the technical skills to execute them, you're really not going to go anywhere," Schmidt said. "But he had strong technical abilities. He also had a brain that just worked at a different level."

Those abilities allowed Scally to sign with New York City FC at the age of 15 in 2018, becoming the second youngest player to sign with a Major League Soccer Club after Freddy Adu. Adu was 14 when he joined D.C. United in 2003. Scally's skills were so impressive that Borussia Mönchengladbach signed him to a contract to play in the Bundesliga in 2021. Since then, he has been a constant presence as an outside back, playing in 153 league matches. The U.S. plays Australia in Seattle on Friday in its second World Cup group match. 

Scally might be a big-time professional player overseas, but he certainly hasn't forgotten his roots.

Just ask Frank Schmidt.