When America Wins the World Cup

Today’s headline reads, “Stars and Stripes Wins the FIFA World Cup.”
The United States of America Men’s National Team affirmed their number-one world ranking as they hung on to win the 20_ _ World Cup. Elite footballing nations have a new member as the USMNT raised the trophy in Sydney. US head coach Michael Bradley said after the game, “Thank you for all the hard work from the players and fans. We have vanquished the global perception that the United States doesn’t play football. This win is for all soccer fans, players, parents, and supporters of US Soccer who have dreamed of this day!” Two strikes from Ballon d’Or winner Morten Johnson in the first half stood up as the Stars and Stripes withstood a late fury mounted by the Red Devils.
Yes, the author is now awake. The headline above begs the questions: What year is the headline? Will it happen in my lifetime? Maybe 2022, 2030, or beyond? I’d like to think so.
Other questions to consider from the headline: Why is Australia hosting a World Cup? The USMNT is number one in the world and they have a Ballon D’Or winner? I know. I know. But what can I say other than “Dream big or go home”?
Globally, men dominate the sport of soccer, but the USMNT has never dominated. If we are to win the World Cup, the sports culture in America will need to continue its shift in soccer’s direction. The aim of this book is to ride the growing American soccer wave and humbly enhance it. I will look at the history of the sport through what I consider significant mileposts in the development of the game in America. Included are some of my experiences as a fan as well as those of other fans. They are here to illustrate to my fellow Americans that we can be passionate and embrace the global game. The sport is building again in America, and the rest of the world is slowly starting to realize that we are taking soccer seriously at the national level.
Also included are a few gentle educational sections to help the American reader gain a deeper understanding of the game. I hope you read it and are then inspired to go to a match. I hope you are inspired to click the remote and watch MLS instead of bowling or basketball.
My only credentials for writing, aside from being an advocate for American soccer and a fan, come from coaching soccer in Alaska for several years and then obtaining my Level 1 FA (Football Association) coaching certification in England and putting it into practice at the youth levels in the Southwest London County of Surrey.
Some of the inspiration for writing this book came from Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. It follows one man’s honest lifelong journey as an Arsenal supporter. He wanted to tell his story, the candid tale of a pure fan. While reading it, I realized that so many Americans share his passion for the game, but nobody, domestically or internationally, seemed to understand this outside of American soccer circles. Other inspiration came from many Britons and Europeans who seem to think the quality of US players is still where it was thirty or forty years ago.
The book is also about continuing the quest for respect of US Soccer at home and around the world. Most importantly, it’s about what every American soccer fan wants: to see the Men’s Stars and Stripes win the World Cup. Is that ambitious? That’s America.
In case you aren’t yet familiar with football terms and acronyms, I will provide a handy reference section:
Football (or soccer, futbal, futbol, or il calcio in Italy) is the premier sport for most nations across Europe, South America, most of Africa, Asia, and Central America. I will use soccer and football interchangeably and sometimes will refer to football as American football. The transition will take time and may be painful for some Americans. Get used to seeing football used for soccer and futbol.
USMNT is the United States Men’s National Team.
USWNT is the United States Women’s National Team.
WCQ is World Cup Qualifier, a match that counts toward playing in the next World Cup Finals.
World Cup Finals is the tournament known around the world as the World Cup. Thirty-two nations qualify for the tournament.
CONCACAF is the Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football. This is the confederation for the United States, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras, Canada, and any other country in North or Central America and the Caribbean.
MLS is Major League Soccer, the top level of soccer in the United States and Canada.
EPL is English Premier League or Barclay’s Premier League, the top level of soccer in England and Wales. (I’ve started a petition to rename the league the “Barclay’s Mostly English and a Wee Bit Welsh Premier League,” as Swansea City was joined by fellow Welsh club Cardiff City for the 2013–2014 season.) Scotland and Northern Ireland play in their own sandboxes.
UEFA is the Union of European Football Associations.
Pitch is the field.
Match is a game.
Courgette is a zucchini.
Torch is a flashlight.
Derby (pronounced “darby”) is a rivalry match, usually in the same town or locale.
The Hex, or Hexagonal Playoffs, is the name of the final round of qualifying for the World Cup in the CONCACAF.
Caps means playing in a game for your national team. For some fans, it means attending an international game.
FC is football club, as in Barcelona FC.
Stars and Stripes is the nickname for the US national soccer teams.
Ballon d’Or is the trophy given to the best football player in the world each year.