That versatility helped Tim make the U.S. World Cup roster in 2022, and then again in 2026. That’s one thing he has on his dad. For all his accolades, George Weah never played in a World Cup. He says he could have, if he had taken the opportunity as a young man to leave for Brazil or Cameroon. But he wanted to stay loyal to his home country, Liberia.
Throughout most of George’s career, Liberia was engulfed in civil war, from 1989 until 2003 with a few-year break in between. He served as a peace ambassador and tried to use his celebrity for good. “We thought that, through sports, we could bring back stability to our country,” George said. “Whenever my status was needed to calm the nation, I was there.”
After George retired from soccer, he became more formally involved in politics. He led a new political party that came to be called the Congress for Democratic Change, or the CDC. In fall 2017, the people elected him president of Liberia after he promised to make sweeping changes. But he was voted out in the 2023 election and left office to mixed reviews. Some media pointed to his inability to curb corruption there.
He did keep one major promise: There is no more war in Liberia. “What I wanted to do was promote peace and stability and true democracy,” George said. “Democratic [processes] have to be the hallmark of the day. That’s it. So we can be peaceful.”
During his presidency, he found time to watch his son at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In the U.S. national team’s opening game, against Wales, Tim was a starter on the wing. In the 36th minute, Christian Pulisic was dribbling upfield when Tim made a heady cut into open space. Pulisic made the pass, and Tim flicked the ball into the net, past the sliding goalkeeper.
Up in the stands, the Weahs lost their minds, cheering and hugging everyone in sight, the famous George Weah included. “He was basically like a kid again, living that dream through me,” Tim said. “It was fun to see that joy and that love for the game in his eyes again.”
After that, Clar noticed, things started to shift for her son. Before, he had always been referred to as Tim Weah, son of George Weah. That still happens. “But now people are knowing Timothy for himself,” Clar said, “playing for the U.S. national team.”
