Elmo 'loves everybody,' but wants Team USA to win the World Cup
Elmo 'loves everybody,' but wants Team USA to win the World Cup
Drew Pittock, USA TODAYSun, June 21, 2026 at 7:48 PM UTC
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Elmo, wary of repeating his Knicks controversy, has thrown his full support behind Team USA in the 2026 World Cup.
The iconic Sesame Street character ruffled more than a few feathers several weeks ago when he said he hoped both teams, the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, "have fun" during the NBA Finals, despite being a lifelong resident of the Big Apple.
Here's what you should know about Elmo's support in the 2026 World Cup.
Elmo speaks onstage during The Twelfth Annual Town & Country Philanthropy Summit at Hearst Tower on October 28, 2025 in New York City.'Don't make this a thing'
Elmo took to social media June 19, to voice his support for Team USA in the ongoing 2026 men's World Cup tournament.
"Just to be clear, Elmo wants Team USA to win. OK?" Elmo said while wearing a Team USA jersey. He added, in an apparent reference to his Knicks controversy, "But Elmo loves everybody. Just to be clear. Don't make this a thing."
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Fans were quick to show their support for Elmo in the comments.
"Yall should be shamed. Why Elmo have to do this?" wrote one user.
"Can't believe y'all bullied Elmo into making an apology video," wrote another.
One person felt compelled to apologize for adults everywhere, writing, "I am so sorry that some grownups can't get along Elmo."
Elmo speaks at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything Festival in New York City, U.S., May 22, 2024.Elmo angers Knicks fans ahead of NBA Finals
As USA TODAY previously reported, before the start of Game 1 in the NBA Finals between the Spurs and Knicks, Elmo said on X that he hoped both teams would "have fun." Fans quickly flooded the replies demanding he pick a side – with many in New York arguing the furry red Muppet should back his hometown team.
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"Elmo be serious you're a New Yorker, you know you can't act like this," a post said. Someone else responded: "They're revoking Elmo's New Yorker status in real time." Another added, "Elmo, you're from the city. Pick a side man."
Elmo eventually responded to the discourse and waved the white flag in a follow-up post, saying, "KNICKS that last message! Elmo didn't mean to SPUR you on!"
Sesame Street characters Elmo and Cookie Monster arrive for the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026.Elmo helps with World Cup coverage
Meanwhile, Elmo has also been busy lending his not-so-expert analysis to World Cup coverage, alongside some of his friends from Sesame Street.
Ahead of the United States' opening match against Paraguay on June 12, Elmo and Cookie Monster discussed all things World Cup with Fox's Charissa Thompson. During the broadcast, Thompson asked Elmo how he was feeling.
"It's really amazing," Elmo said. "Everybody's been really nice and teaching us about soccer."
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Another Sesame Street personality to have landed a World Cup gig is The Count, who will have a stats-focused segment.
Meanwhile, Oscar the Grouch will host "Trash Talk," which Fox describes as "a satirical highlight show featuring 'grouchy' moments on-and-off pitch." Grover will also be featured in a segment in which the Muppet interacts with Fox Sports broadcasters to better understand how a World Cup match is called on television.
Contributing: Taylor Ardrey, Jon Arnold / USA TODAY
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elmo picks his favorite World Cup team after NBA Finals backlash
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
