With the FIFA World Cup 2026 in full swing, and fans from all over the world traveling across the United States to cheer on their home teams, beloved Sesame Street character Elmo took to X in a Team USA jersey to declare his support for the American squad.
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The explicit partisanship isn’t an accident but an inside joke. Earlier this month, as the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks battled for a championship, Elmo expressed hope for both teams to have fun.
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The social media world wasn’t having it. Knicks fans, already riled up by the intensity of the series, weren’t pleased.
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Other brands got in on the joke. The roasting continued after the Knicks won, with at least one fan dressing in an Elmo suit to hold up an apology sign at the victory parade in New York.
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Even Cookie Monster didn’t hold back, saying he would teach Elmo how to pick a team.
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As a public figure with an international audience, Elmo is definitely in a tough spot, but declaring that you love everyone while wearing your nation’s soccer uniform is probably your best shot at minimizing the fallout.
Topics
Sesame Street
FIFA World Cup
