Former Vice President Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff found themselves at the center of an unfortunate World Cup coincidence Thursday.
Emhoff posted a smiling photo of the couple with the caption, “Goal!” — just before Team USA fell behind 2-1 to Turkey in its final World Cup group-stage match in Los Angeles.
The post came at an awkward moment, appearing before Turkey was about to grab the lead in the decisive Group D contest.
“Let’s go @usmnt,” Harris said herself later on Instagram, after the US tied the matchup behind Sebastian Berhalter’s goal in the 49th minute.
A video shared by Harris showed Emhoff, dressed in a Team USA jersey, placing a red, white and blue scarf around her neck moments before the photo was taken. Harris, who had been wearing only a black leather jacket, then posed for the snapshot.
She shouted out NSYNC member Lance Bass for snapping the quick photo.
Second lady Usha Vance was also in attendance as thousands packed Los Angeles Stadium for the high-stakes World Cup clash.
The celebrity crowd also included Hollywood actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Colin Farrell and Ashton Kutcher, while NBA legend Scottie Pippen and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua were also spotted at the match.
The appearance wasn’t Harris’ first public show of support for US soccer.
As vice president in 2022, Harris marked Equal Pay Day with a White House event featuring members of the US Women’s National Team, including Megan Rapinoe and Margaret Purce, following the team’s landmark equal pay settlement with US Soccer.
Emhoff has also promoted soccer in his public appearances.
During the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, he led the official US presidential delegation to New Zealand for the Americans’ opening match.
“I was a soccer dad … [a coach] with my kids, and then I became a referee wearing that yellow outfit with the whistle and those short shorts and the big socks,” Emhoff told “Good Morning America” at the time.
“To go from that on those fields, watching all these kids play and the parents rooting them on, to now be representing our country on this presidential delegation and seeing all these athletes now representing their countries, I’m just so honored and proud to be here.”
The USMNT ultimately fell to Turkey 3-2 Thursday night.
