Passengers on American Airlines flight 6324, traveling from Los Angeles to Seattle, got a pleasant surprise when they boarded: a men's U.S. national soccer team (USMNT) jersey was draped over each of the 65 seats, with additional souvenirs waiting nearby. In addition to the jerseys, passengers received limited American Airlines U.S. Soccer gear kits, including clear backpacks with mini soccer balls and accessories. Many were heading to the team’s second World Cup match, which was scheduled to take place the next day at the Seattle stadium.
The match between the U.S. and Australia, set for Friday at noon, was one of the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures: both teams had won their opening games, and tickets for the match were selling for upwards of $2,000. For Seattle, the game was a true moment in the spotlight — tens of thousands of fans were expected to turn out in red, white and blue to support the team. The airline decided to lift fans’ spirits by staging the surprise right before the big match.
Videos of the decked-out plane quickly spread across social media, prompting users to praise American Airlines for the gesture. Some passengers who had flown to Seattle on other carriers for previous matches jokingly tagged those airlines in comments asking, “Where are our jerseys?” In doing so, the airline not only delighted fans but also earned a wave of positive attention online.
Based on: Seattle-bound American Airlines plane surprises passengers with USMNT World Cup gear