Daniel Edelman living out Red Bulls dream with World Cup ‘huge’ next goal

Daniel Edelman could barely hide the youthful exuberance in his voice as he took a moment to reflect on just how far he’s come in such a short period of time.

But along with it came a confident tone, knowing that it’s no accident his career is at such a promising, and rare, juncture. 

Both sentiments were more than justified.  

Within the past year, the 20-year-old Edelman has already accomplished two of his biggest dreams in soccer. 

Dreams that he formed in the same places he recounted them over the phone with The Post. 

A Warren, N.J. native and lifelong Red Bulls fan, Edelman broke into the team’s rotation late last season from their youth system, and has now emerged as a staple in the lineup and anchor in their midfield. 

Recently, Edelman briefly put that on pause to captain the U.S. Men’s National Team at the U-20 World Cup in Argentina. 

“Looking at it on the surface, a kid from New Jersey, a suburb town, playing in a World Cup in Argentina, is pretty astonishing,” Edelman told The Post. “It’s pretty, I would say, uncommon. Honestly, for me it was never something that seemed out of the ordinary, and something that I knew I was capable of if I just worked hard and was committed to my craft. 

“I wanted this moment, I wanted to be at the World Cup playing there in Argentina, and embrace all the pressure. That’s something that was a big step for my career.” 

It seems Edelman’s career is constantly taking big steps these days. 

He helped lead the USMNT U-20 in Argentina, where the promising crop of senior team-hopefuls impressed and didn’t concede a goal until losing to eventual-champions Uruguay in the quarterfinals. 

Edelman impressed on the field, a box-to-box midfielder who both sparks attacks with his between-the-lines passing and stifles opponents’ advances as a defensive ball-winner. 

But it was his leadership that stood out the most. 

Entrusted by his teammates to be their captain, Edelman emerged as an authority figure on a team comprised of players all aged the same.

“Something for me I think that’s been natural since a young age is that part of my game and why I think I play well and perform well in certain games is because being a leader is how I can show my performance and make sure all the guys around me are doing well,” Edelman said.

“It’s just natural for me to take charge. And I want the responsibility to make sure the guys around me are doing their jobs while I’m doing my own… To captain the squad at the World Cup is an absolute honor, and a privilege, something that I’ll be grateful for for the rest of my life.” 

Perhaps the Americans’ biggest standout at the U-20 World Cup, Edelman will now be firmly in the mix to make the senior roster for the 2026 World Cup. 

The timing couldn’t be better. 

The 2026 World Cup will primarily be played in the United States, with MetLife Stadium in Edelman’s hometown New Jersey in the running to host the final, or at least a few games. 

On top of that, the Americans possess perhaps its most-tantalizing field of players it has ever had at newly rehired Gregg Berhalter’s disposal – a young, talented group of players a majority of whom are playing at the highest levels in Europe and have already established their stature on the world stage. 

Edelman envisions himself in the middle of it all.

“That’s definitely something that I’m looking at in the future,” Edelman said. “The next thing for me would be the Olympic team in 2024. And then, of course, I’d want another chance at another World Cup, in 2026, the one with the senior team. That would be huge…

“I’m gonna do everything I can to try and make the squad there. I think that starts now with having a great rest of the season with Red Bulls.”

Amid a turbulent and disappointing Red Bulls season, Edelman has been a silver lining.

The Red Bulls sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with 23 points (5-6-8) and are currently under the stewardship of Troy Lesesne after the team fired Gerhard Struber in May.

But Edelman has emerged as one of MLS’ fastest-rising talents, and scored his first goal of the season during the Red Bulls’ 4-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday. 

He’s anxious to help the Red Bulls extend their playoff streak, which sits at an MLS-best 13-straight years, and ideally help the team take the next step as MLS Cup contenders that’s for so long eluded them. 

That playoff streak extends to when Edelman was seven years old. 

Edelman was a tangential part of the inception of that playoff streak, and the team’s success during that period, however. 

As a fan, attending as many games as he could at Red Bull Arena on the other side of New Jersey, sitting with his father, brother and grandfather in the top row across from the supporters’ section. 

Edelman has vivid memories watching Thierry Henry, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Connor Lade, Sean Davis and Luis Robles – Red Bulls icons who defined an era in Harrison, N.J., and whose shoes Edelman is now filling. 

“When I could actually go in person to see a game at Red Bull Arena, it was so cool for me because I wanted to be a professional soccer player,” Edelman said. “And to see that there’s a team right here in New Jersey that is such a famous club and what it’s done, it was definitely a dream to play for them, and I think just a great stepping stone and first pathway for me. 

“I think a lot of guys want to end up in Europe and play over there, play Champions League football, and this is gonna be somewhere that will definitely help me grow and prosper to get to that next level.” 

It’s that last part that perhaps provides the most intrigue surrounding Edelman’s career. 

There’s been a major shift in recent years with the best young American players pushing to play in the best leagues across Europe as quickly as they can rather than stay in MLS. 

Edelman doesn’t shy away from his ambitions to follow that model.

Recently, esteemed international soccer news breaker Fabrizio Romano reported that clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands and Israel have tabbed Edelman as a potential transfer target. 

“It’s cool,” Edelman said. “Honestly, I’m unsure how to feel. I’m really just soaking it all in. Coming back now from the U-20 World Cup, there’s definitely some options and clubs are interested and all that, it’s pretty cool. It’s some real stuff that’s going on.” 

That’s in the future, though. 

At the moment, the team he grew up loving finds itself in one of its most trying times of his lifetime. 

The Red Bulls need a leader to steer them back in the right direction. 

And there is no one on the roster better than Edelman to do just that. 

“The one soccer team I grew up watching in New Jersey, the pro team, now I have a chance to really make my mark with that squad. It’s really special, and it’s something that day-by-day I’m super grateful for,” Edelman said.

“Now, I don’t want to just be a player that plays for the Red Bulls. Why can’t I, why can’t Daniel Edelman from Warren Township, be a Red Bulls legend?”