The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said it will send a soccer ball to the moon if the U.S. national soccer team wins the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.
AFP said on the 30th (local time) that Jared Isaacman, Director General of NASA, said this to the U.S. team at an event explaining plans to build a lunar base, saying, "The U.S. team's challenge is to win the World Cup. I hope you complete the mission."
Director General Isaacman mentioned the anecdote of the first American astronaut, Alan Shepard, taking a golf swing on the moon in 1971. Shepard played golf with a club and ball he had brought in advance before leaving the lunar surface during the Apollo 14 mission, drawing attention.
Director General Isaacman said, "We will go beyond Alan Shepard and send a soccer ball to the moon," adding, "I hope this promise gives the U.S. team a small boost of motivation."
The United States is co-hosting this World Cup with Mexico and Canada. Having advanced first in its group, the U.S. team will play its round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 2nd.