I think I like watching the Men's National Team because it is a massive global sport that the US doesn't dominate. We're good enough to be competitive and fun to watch, but it is'nt like watching the basketball team roll up on Ecuador or something. I'll generally watch the USMNT and USWNT anytime I happen to see them on tv. And make appointment watching for big tournaments like the Gold Cup or WC qualifying.
MMA is great. The problem to me is like with boxing; there are too many belts and divisions and it's gotten too expensive to watch and keep up. I am hesitant to criticize the WNBA because they're great athletes and some of the dislike of it may be for bad reasons. But I find it almost impossible to watch despite the fact that with most sports, I enjoy the womens' competition as much as the mens'. And it's not just about dunking either. Maybe I should give it another shot.
Is this the part where the "stand up for the anthem, you ungrateful woke athlete!" crowd throws a hissy fit and boycotts watching the rest of the World Cup?
The US and N. America in general are in much better soccer shape today than ever before. MLS is thriving and on solid ground. Having a good domestic league not only gives the US a foundation, but it gives top players in the region a chance to play professionally. Many MLS players on Canada, for example. Meanwhile, the US now has dedicated soccer academies. And players playing in top Euro leagues. 40 years ago, when the original NASL folded, there was no opportunity to be an American professional soccer player. Today? Kids can dream of playing in Europe as they train in specialized academies. 2026 will be key. We host the WC on home soil, with the current core still under 30 years old. If we don't take the next step then, we may never. Still, just to be talking about it just shows how far we've come.
our kids played soccer growing up and the problem as I see it is that often the better younger kids fall behind because they don't get the private coaching that others can afford. Little Johnny at age 6 or 7 is getting private coaching and Ricky isn't. Ricky has a much higher ceiling but Johnny is better player at younger age. Johnny develops quicker with the better private coaching so he gets on better teams that have better coaching while Ricky gives up because he can't make the better teams. I saw that a lot as my son played from 5 - 15 before he got into competitive sailing in high school. Probably for another thread but the way that kids have to specialize in a single sport in order to be competitive enough to make the better teams even at an early age is not good for any of the sports. And kids whose parents can afford private instruction get a big leg up early on. Sometimes the less advantaged kids push through the disadvantages and advance but from my limited exposure, it was the kids that had those early advantages that move forward until they hit their ceiling and we end up with a group of players that have a lower ceiling overall. jmo.
That penalty was massive. Such a stupid play on the ball through the defender. I was impressed with Weah and I'd like to see more SHOTS! Why do they always hold for a PERFECT shot? I scored lots of goals (in my youth) off of shots I took just to cause a rebound off of a defender. We obviously will never have a player the caliber of Messi (all of our best athletes play b-ball and f-ball) but we can pepper keepers more imho. Also, that team had like 5 guys 6-5 or taller it seemed, great job not allowing a goal in the air. Miraculous actually.
It’s both. The truly great soccer players develop that incredible feel for the ball playing in streets and parks since they can walk. Tennis is a good comparison because both sports require developing that precise feel for the ball at a young age. It’s almost impossible to start playing soccer or tennis in your teens and become elite no matter how gifted you are. We have amazing athletes and infrastructure but until I see young kids playing mostly soccer at the park instead of baseball, football or basketball, it’s going to be hard to compete with soccer powers. And if African nations ever manage to build the infrastructure and systems, watch out! France was not a world power until their second generation Africans started joining the French team.
There’s some evidence that getting too much coaching too early can limit future potential. Especially in sports that require creativity.
I agree 2026 is key but not only for the team, hosting it in the social media age is key for the future of the sport domestically. You will have mothers and fathers taking their children to the WC games, some of those children will fall in love and crave the game. We will continue to see progression in the US because of MLS and there are plenty of athletes to supply all sports. We even have Hollywood stars buying soccer teams and making very entertaining documentaries.
Did anyone else see the Saudi Arabian player get knocked out cold with a knee to face from his own goalie? It was brutal. He has to break his jaw. found it
Russian Chinese and Filipino hookers are always in ample supplies in the Persian Gulf areas. Slave labor of the Bangladeshi and Pakistani people will never go away. Indians are the middle management.
I look at Africa as SEC football circa late 1980's early 1990. Potential is there, but don't have the notoriety and their best players tend to play for teams up north (europe). When that catches up (including the infrastructure) you will see an African team winning a WC. Asians haven't gotten into soccer as much yet so we can't yet make a determination their ceiling.
