How COVID affects Thanksgiving for USMNT's Europe-based stars such as Adams, Steffen and Wright

For American soccer players competing overseas, such as RB Leipzig's Tyler Adams, Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen and Haji Wright, this Thanksgiving is shaping up to be unlike any other.

During most seasons spent abroad, the Thanksgiving holiday serves as a reminder of just how far away a player's loved ones are. The warm blanket that is reuniting with family is often absent, and it can add to a sense of isolation.

It's a sacrifice American players have been making for decades -- trailblazers overseas such as Claudio Reyna, Steve Cherundolo and Clint Dempsey, to name but a few -- but this time around, the chances to connect will steer more toward the virtual than normal. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited international travel, as well as movement on a more local level. There's also the rather unsettled nature of what's going on in the U.S. as 2020 draws to a close.

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"It's a bit difficult for me, not to be home with the family and celebrating with everybody," Wright, who plays in Denmark with SuperLiga side SønderjyskE, told ESPN. "But I'd say definitely this year is even more special with everything going on in the world, especially in the States with the election, the rioting, the protests. You add COVID-19 to that and the lockdowns? It's been quite a year."

For that reason, the recollections of Thanksgivings past are even more front of mind.

First, there's the food. For Steffen, it's the desserts -- cream puffs, especially. For Wright, it's his mom's mac and cheese as well as the sweet potato pie. Adams is all about stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Then there's the time spent with family, be it around the dinner table or in the backyard. It's why for Adams, Thanksgiving was hands down "always my favorite holiday." That's especially true now that his brothers are scattered at universities around the U.S. The holiday was a way of bringing everyone together, even for just a short time.

"We had the Turkey Bowl every year," Adams told ESPN. "It was usually two against two with my brothers, and then my dad as the all-time quarterback. We always did oldest versus youngest, so it was me and Darryl against Dylan and Donovan. And then, the first one to cry from one of my younger brothers, my dad was like, 'You guys got to switch teams because I can't hear this.' You can imagine. It got pretty intense. The first up to eat at the dinner table was whoever won."

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For Steffen, especially as his professional career began to take off, Thanksgiving was a respite from the game's grind.

"I think my family does a really good job of stepping back and seeing the important moments that we spend together," he told ESPN. "And how big they are and massive they are for just camaraderie and love. A lot of families don't get that, so my mom is definitely very big on recognizing how lucky and blessed we are."

The pandemic's impact on Thanksgiving has been driven home this week. Wright will spend the holiday with his girlfriend, Jana, although he was visited recently by his mother Serena and his brother Hanif. Adams' girlfriend, Sarah, whom he describes as a "holiday enthusiast" who usually goes all-out for Thanksgiving, is back in the U.S., so he'll be solo. There's also the fact that duty calls with his club team.

"There won't even be an attempt for me [to cook] without my girlfriend here," he said. "I'm just bringing home food from the training ground and then I guess I'm gonna have to celebrate on FaceTime. My parents will 100 percent FaceTime me, because all my brothers will still be home. And then, there won't be too much to it because we'll prepare on the weekend for an away game, so I'll leave [for that] the next day."

A year ago, Steffen's family visited when he was playing on loan with Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany. That won't be possible this time, but he's still aiming for something adventurous. With U.S. women's national team players Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle playing for Man City's women's team, there's a hope that the three of them, along with another Man City women's star, Canadian international Janine Beckie, might be able to get together -- responsibly distanced, of course -- and celebrate the holiday.

The fact that the U.S. women will face the Netherlands in Breda the day after Thanksgiving -- Watch LIVE on Friday, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 (U.S.) -- precludes anything happening on the holiday itself, while COVID-19 protocols could scuttle any plans to get together, but Steffen is determined to do something. It doesn't help that he's not a great cook, but he's counting on his friend Dylan Hurley to pick up the slack.

"He likes to cook a lot and so he and I will chef up a good bit of it," Steffen said. "And I think we might have everybody bring their own dish, so keep the fun."

Together, they'll remember that even as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, there's still plenty to be thankful for. - Jeff Carlisle

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