Long Island’s own Joe Scally is officially headed back to the biggest stage in international soccer. The Sachem North High School graduate will be playing in his second consecutive FIFA World Cup, an incredible accomplishment for the 23-year-old defender whose rise through the soccer world has been nothing short of remarkable.
Scally’s journey from Lake Grove to international soccer stardom has inspired many across Long Island. Long before becoming a regular on the United States Men’s National Team roster, Scally was already making history at a young age. In March 2018, he signed with Major League Soccer’s New York City FC at just 15 years old, becoming the second-youngest American soccer professional ever at the time behind only Freddy Adu.
Scally made his professional debut on June 6 in a U.S. Open Cup match and quickly caught the attention of international scouts. In November 2019, NYCFC announced that Scally would be transferred to German club Borussia Mönchengladbach following the 2020 season once he turned 18 years old.
Although his playing time in 2020 was limited, appearing in just five regular-season and postseason matches, Scally’s potential was obvious. Since arriving in Germany, his development has skyrocketed. He recently became the youngest non-German player ever to appear in 150 Bundesliga matches, a milestone that highlights both his durability and consistency competing at one of the highest levels of world soccer.
For Long Island soccer fans, Scally’s success story runs even deeper through family roots tied to the local game. His mother, the former Margaret Peragine, also enjoyed soccer success growing up on Long Island. She played for the Sachem Tomahawks of the Long Island Junior Soccer League, a team that captured the 1987 Patricia Louise Masotto Cup as the girls under-16 national champions.
Now, Scally is preparing for another opportunity to represent the United States on soccer’s biggest stage. At just 23 years old, he already has accomplished more than most players dream of in an entire career, and his story continues to be a source of pride for the Sachem community and Long Island sports fans everywhere.