From Lake Grove to World Cup | New York City News

New York City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 2, 2026 · 1m

Twenty-three-year-old Joe Scally, a hometown hero from Lake Grove, New York, is lighting up the World Cup as the youngest U.S. men’s national team player — and his community is celebrating like it’s their own victory. Rising from Sachem School District’s youth ranks, he was already “at another level” by age 11, turned pro at 15 with NYCFC, and now embodies what’s possible with grit, humility, and hometown pride. His former coach still remembers his brilliance, and Scally’s gesture of gifting him a jersey after a send-off game sealed their bond. For students and fans alike, his story is a…