Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan didn't play in the 2014 World Cup, but that didn't stop some fans from singing his praises. Reuters

The U.S. men’s national soccer team may have reached new levels of popularity at the 2014 World Cup, but plenty of fans still need to brush up on the squad’s roster.

In the latest edition of his talk show’s “Lie Witness News” segment, Jimmy Kimmel sent a camera crew to walk around Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles to ask newly minted World Cup “fans” what they thought about Landon Donovan’s performance during the tournament. Of course, Donovan didn’t play in the World Cup this year; in May, Jurgen Klinsmann made the polarizing decision to leave him off the United States roster.

But that didn’t stop several fans from praising Donovan’s play at the World Cup. One man confused him for Clint Dempsey (who suffered a broken nose against Ghana), while another individual said that he “cried” when he witnessed Donovan’s “tricycle kick” – a fictional technique.

Near the end of the video, a pair of young fans mistook Donovan for Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan star who received a four-month ban from FIFA for biting an opposing player. “I mean, he’s hot, so I don’t care,” one said.

Fear not, would-be soccer fans. A 2-1 loss to Belgium on Tuesday eliminated the United States from World Cup contention this year, which means that newbies will have four years to study Team USA and avoid a similar snafu.

Kimmel’s entire “Lie Witness News” Donovan prank can be viewed below.

[h/t Uproxx]