By Rhonda
Sting and shame. That’s what the United States men’s national soccer team has felt for four years since failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Eight years of waiting. The United States knew it could qualify with a win or loss by less than six goals, and though they lost to Costa Rica 2-0, they secured a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. “I’m extremely proud of this group,” US star Christian Pulisic said. “It’s a bit of a weird feeling right now because I hate to lose so much, but I’m really proud, and I can’t wait to go to the World Cup.”
Redemption. How sweet it must feel for the USMNT. It was a watershed moment and they have lived with the humiliation of that loss ever since. The USMNT can dream again and we as a country can feel proud of our men’s squad.
See you in November. 🇺🇸
— USMNT: Qualified. (@USMNT) March 31, 2022
🗣 @TimHowardGK pic.twitter.com/ZiX4E4JGir
The men’s team has always lived with the question, “Why is the U.S. so good in women’s soccer, but not in men’s?” It’s not often in the sports world when we find a paradox like this. I mean let’s hear it for the girls! The United States women’s national soccer team has won 50% of all World Cups played – WOW. They are four-time champs while the men’s soccer team has never won. I don’t want to make this about equal pay, but it’s why so many argue that the women’s team deserves equal pay to their male counterparts.
Men’s professional sports have proven their dominance in the United States except for in soccer. Why has it been so historically bad? First, there’s been limited talent. Our players haven’t stacked up well against the world. Then, there is the problem of dual-national players. The American players who have skills go play for another country because they have a better chance of becoming a world-class athlete. These players want to play for teams that will win championships. Further, other countries begin creating the next Ronaldo, the next Messi, from a very young age so when American teams face global opponents, they start at an immediate disadvantage. There has not been long-term development in this country.
Soccer has never really been America’s blood. This country runs on the NFL and other traditional American sports so younger athletes haven’t chosen soccer. But, what we are seeing in the last five years is soccer becoming more popular. With the growth of the MLS, a group of thriving players overseas and an improving national team, American fans have a lot to cheer about right now.
Soccer is the second-fastest-growing sport in America, surpassed only by lacrosse. In fact, more American teenagers are playing soccer than ever before. The number of US high schoolers playing the game reached an all-time high in the 2018/19 season. Soccer is now more popular than ice hockey in the US and it’s starting to close a significant gap on baseball. Plus, a Gallup poll shows that because of Millennials’ love of the sport, soccer’s popularity has tripled in the last decade.
Around 2014, MLS decided to go all out in social media marketing in a way that few pro leagues have. They created a league-wide position of Director of Social Media with one goal: to grow the fan base. They flooded feeds with posts about the European soccer tour throughout the United States, right before the kick-off of the 2015 MLS season. They created original content for all social channels. They killed it. Their strategy drummed up a lot of excitement and it’s still going.
With the USMNT’s appearance in the World Cup, it’s only to get younger people more excited about the game. This is a new generation. Gregg Berhalter’s squad is the youngest to qualify for a World Cup in USMNT history. The average age is 24 and the future looks bright. More U.S. teenagers are moving abroad and playing and contributing in the top European leagues. They’re starting on some of the best clubs in the world and winning UEFA championships. The list goes on. This trend will continue and it will pay dividends for the USMNT.
Picture Credit: Shutterstock
