Johnston first wore the outfit at the 2002 World Cup, travelling to South Korea with his wife, Toni Kendrick, and their daughter. The costume has changed slightly since then: a star-spangled hat was stolen, replaced by a lighter fabric version that is easier to carry.
The commitment, however, has not changed.
Johnston did not grow up playing football in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Seeing Pelé with the New York Cosmos offered an early connection, but the 1994 tournament turned curiosity into a lifelong passion.
He joined Sam’s Army, the supporters’ group of the time, and began travelling with the national team. Gerald Foston, president of Sammers SC, said Johnston’s reputation extends beyond American fan circles.
“He’s definitely a known entity,” Foston said. “‘Uncle Sam’ is how people know him best, actually. He’s been doing it for a while. He’s the original Uncle Sam, as far as I’m concerned.”
Johnston skipped the United States’ opening match against Paraguay because ticket prices were too high. He is instead set to travel west for Australia in Seattle on 19 June and Türkiye in Los Angeles on 25 June, accompanied by his son and one of his grandchildren.
More stops may follow. For Johnston, the principle remains simple: “If you go looking for a good time, you’ll find a good time.”