‘Good Riddance’: Landon Donovan Bluntly Calls Out Noahkai Banks For Hesitating To Join United States

There’s no need for traitors, I’m with Landon Donovan.

We’re only months away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and for soccer fans like myself, it’s going to be extra fun considering the games will be on our time schedule with the tournament being in the United States (and North America). With that being said, the U.S. Men’s National Team most likely won’t be a contender to hold up the trophy.

For that to change, the U.S. would need to bring in players with the most talent, and though that sounds obvious, it’s even more emphasized with the World Cup featuring literally the best players in the world. This is where defenseman Noahkai Banks would come in, who plays in the German Bundesliga for FC Augsburg.

With Banks, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, having a father who is American and a mother who is German, he has the choice of playing for either nation.

In his youth career, Banks has suited up for the United States on numerous occasions, and received an invitation to the USMNT March camp prior to both the World Cup and process to select players. Come to find out, Banks nixed the invitation, and now he’s thinking about whether to play for the United States or Germany. And boy oh boy, is American soccer legend Landon Donovan furious about it. (RELATED: Team USA Dominates Fanatics Flag Football Classic Despite Tom Brady Looking Like The GOAT, Per Usual)

Talking recently on “Unfiltered Soccer,” Donovan kept it 100% real, even saying that Banks should no longer be in the U.S. program on a permanent basis.

“From the federation’s standpoint, and particularly Matt Crocker, who makes these decisions, if someone does not want to play for your country, good riddance,” said Donovan. “Goodbye. And I’m not mad at him. He can make his decision. But now, I don’t care about you anymore. I don’t.”

Donovan didn’t stop there.

“I don’t care about Noahkai — if he does not wanna play for the U.S., totally fine. I get it,” explained Donovan. “If he feels more German, I’ve always said, make the decision where you’re passionate. Clearly, if he wanted to be a part of the U.S. team — he’s been in many camps, Tim. He’s been in camps. He’s been in youth camps. The federation has been on him for a long time. And this whole notion of us, like, begging him to play for our country is bullsh*t.”

WATCH:

Landon’s thoughts on Noahkai Banks declining the USMNT’s March invite:

“From the federation’s standpoint, and particularly Matt Crocker, who makes these decisions, if someone does not want to play for your country, good riddance. Goodbye. And I’m not mad at him. He can make his… pic.twitter.com/GUKlz8Mauf

— Unfiltered Soccer (@UnfilteredSoccr) March 24, 2026

You might as well just go to Germany now, Noahkai. What American is rooting for you after this nonsense?