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          Landon Donovan takes heat from U.S. internationals for Mexico-supporting ads

          • ESPN staffJun 16, 2018, 10:51 PM

          It has been an emotional, painful eight months for U.S. Soccer fans since that fateful loss in Trinidad and Tobago ruled out the men's national team from competing in their eighth straight World Cup. A number of advertisers are taking the same approach to the situation.

          With the U.S.'s absence have come several pushes -- from television networks and banks to cars and beers -- for American fans to give their support to a team that did manage to navigate the road to Russia: archrival Mexico.

          Among those taking part is USMNT legend Landon Donovan in a promotion for Wells Fargo, but not everyone feels his request is appropriate.

          Although there is some authenticity to Donovan's backing of El Tri -- the U.S.'s all-time leading scorer spent this spring at Liga MX club Leon -- the ad and several other campaigns like it have sparked backlash among U.S. internationals past and present, as well as ESPN presenter Sebastian Salazar.

          Former U.S. forward and current ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman didn't directly reply to Donovan's posts, but he nevertheless revealed strong feelings about rooting for Mexico.

          Donovan replied to the criticism from Carlos Bocanegra, his former captain with the USMNT, noting the Atlanta United technical director's proximity to Mexico while growing up in Southern California and his Mexican heritage. Donovan also stated his concern for how Mexicans in the U.S. are treated and encouraged Bocanegra to "stand for something."

          That drew a sharp rebuke from Donovan's former U.S. teammate Herculez Gomez, who is also an ESPN analyst.