Ted Lasso pens billboard message to Colorado’s World Cup goalie

Ethan Horvath will be the first Coloradan on the United States Men’s National Team for the World Cup, when the tournament kicks off on Monday, but before he journeys to Qatar, he may want to check out the massive billboard with a message to him signed by one of TV’s biggest stars a few blocks from home.

Hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso’s star played by Jason Sudeikis, is adoring a billboard on South Broadway near Jewell Avenue. He has a motivational message about how strong Horvath, a goaltender, will be in net.

“You sure must have been livin’ the high life in Highlands Ranch,” says the world-famous fictional coach. “You’re practically next-door neighbors with the Rockies—a stone fortress, protecting the land. Kinda like you on the national team competing in the games of games. You’re the rock and a hard place. Ain’t nothing is gonna get past you. You’ll be takin’ down scissors and paper. I mean, paper really has no business beating rock in the first place, like y’all have never heard of paperweights? One thing I know rock solid, nobody’s gonna cross Mt. Horvath.”

World Cup is around the corner and @TedLasso sends his best wishes to Highlands Ranch’s own goalie Ethan Horvath @USMNT pic.twitter.com/Fwuq7pEbna

— Dave Althouse (@davealthouse) November 15, 2022

The billboard is one in a series for all 26 of the USMNT players, put up in each of their hometowns, or in Horvath’s case, almost hometown since he’s actually from Highlands Ranch and the message is in Denver’s city limits. All of the advertisements are filled with cutesy optimism that Ted Lasso is known the world over for.

Soccer’s biggest stage kicks off on Sunday with the USMNT beginning play against Wales a day later.

Horvath, 27, probbaly won’t see the field during the tournament since the Arapahoe High School is the team’s third-string goalie behind Arsenal’s Matt Turner and NYCFC’s Sean Johnson. Horvath plays for Luton Town, on loan from  Nottingham Forest.

Horvath has already starred for the USMNT, coming up big saves in 2021 when he stopped a penalty kick in extra time against Mexico in the Nations League Final.

Come next year for the Women’s World Cup, we may see the entire city’s billboards bought out with about a half dozen USWNT players who have strong Colorado ties.

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