Lobbing Scorchers’ Noah Riffe speaks with U.S. Representative Rick Larsen from Washington's 2nd district about the World Cup and its political impacts. Rep. Larsen was involved in getting the tournament to play matches in Seattle.

Rep. Larsen shared his views on how President Donald Trump and his administration have played into visa issues for the Iranian National Team and a Somali official.

The Congressman also shares his love for soccer, the Seattle Sounders, and how he thinks the United States Men's National Team will do at the World Cup.

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Rep. Rick Larsen on Trump, USMNT & the 2026 World Cup

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About Lobbing Scorchers

Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer’s Ari Liljenwall and Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.

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Ari Liljenwall

A soccer columnist and journalist for Major League Soccer covering soccer in America’s top flight league. Liljenwall has over ten years of experience reporting on the Seattle Sounders, beginning his career as a beat writer in 2014. Liljenwall is a graduate of Western Washington University and hails from New Mexico.

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Noah Riffe

Director of Content for Sounder at Heart with roots in traditional reporting. Riffe began his career covering FC Dallas in 2015 before interning with Sporting Kansas City in 2018 also making a career at The New York Times and USA Today. A Seattle native and lifelong Sounders fan, Riffe brings nearly a decade of experience in soccer storytelling across multiple MLS markets.

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