Landon Donovan Is Looking Forward to Calling the World Cup for This Reason — And It Has Nothing to Do with the Game (Exclusive)
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Credit: Tasos Katopodis - FIFA/FIFA via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Landon Donovan reveals why he's most looking forward to calling the World Cup this summer
- The former USMNT star tells PEOPLE, "A part of me is jealous that I won't get to just watch the games"
- Donovan also reveals his mom's sweet connection to his NESCAFÉ partnership
Landon Donovan is getting pumped up for the World Cup.
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The retired soccer star, 44, will be calling a men's World Cup game for the first time on home soil this summer, an opportunity he tells PEOPLE is "going to be really special."
"It's really exhilarating to be in the booth," says Donovan, speaking on behalf of his partnership with NESCAFÉ, before quipping: "If I'm being honest, a part of me is jealous that I won't get to just watch the games."
Donovan, a competitor in three World Cups before his retirement in 2014, says he's "proud to be representing all of the soccer community and the respective fan bases" when he joins veteran broadcaster Ian Darke in the booth this summer.
"When you get to watch people proud to watch their country compete, it's really special," says the father of three.
Landon Donovan on Oct. 3, 2021 in Carson, CaliforniaCredit: Shaun Clark/Getty
Still, the thing he's looking forward to most at the World Cup this year is getting to experience it all with his family.
"My wife and my middle child, my middle son, will go to two games on their own," Donovan tells PEOPLE.
"My other two kids are going to summer camp, and then they will all be coming to the first U.S. game, USA versus Paraguay, in L.A. And then potentially later in the tournament as the tournament goes on, we'll also meet up again, and that will be by far my favorite moments."
Landon Donovan with his kids in 2024Credit: Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/Getty
Donovan married his wife Hannah Bartell on May 3, 2015, and though he's spending less time running around the soccer field, he says the couple's three kids keep him on his feet.
"They love sports. They play soccer, flag football, baseball. They love it all," shares Donovan — who's teaming up with NESCAFÉ to introduce the limited-edition NESCAFÉ Espresso Keg (basically, a keg for espresso!) to keep his energy up during the games this summer.
Landon Donovan's kids via InstagramCredit: Landon Donovan/Instagram
When he was still competing, "I used to drink caffeine before games," says the California native. "It is very proven to help you endure, help performance, alertness, et cetera, and now that I'm retired and I have three kids, I need more caffeine in my life to keep me going throughout the day."
Now, Donovan, a self-described "very boring" black coffee drinker, says he indulges "functionally" throughout the day, "meaning when I need to be on and do things."
Beyond being an avid coffee-drinker, Donovan's partnership with NESCAFÉ during the World Cup has a special tie to his mom, Donna.
"My mom was actually a fan before I was," he tells PEOPLE. "We grew up with NESCAFÉ in our home, which she reminded me of recently when I told her it smelled so familiar and nostalgic. My mom was like, 'That's because we had it in the house growing up. I drank it all the time,' so it was really nice to have that connection."
The World Cup kicks off June 11 in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Fans can snag the NESCAFÉ Espresso Keg for $10 — a nod to Donovan's iconic jersey number — via three drops on May 15, May 21, and June 11 at 2 p.m. ET.
Read the original article on People