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American soccer’s revolutionary week

By on June 10, 2015

American “soccer” fans are a boisterous breed. Rowdy, taking up too much space and all for a team that is never really that competitive. That’s what they say; but then the US occasionally outperforms and proves everybody (partially) wrong. “And that’s the way we like it,” as the well known US chant finishes.

That song is one of defiance, reflecting nearly everything about the sport in the US — playoffs, college leagues, salary caps — and despite often being ridiculed, so far the fanbase is fine with it. Even the name is different. The best part for US fans often seems to be proving everybody wrong.

There is no history, they say. And yet the US were semifinalists in the very first edition of the World Cup. Even Italy, England, Spain, Germany, and Portugal cannot claim that. And so, yet again, there is that annoying edge, borderline bumptious.

When FIFA awarded the US a World Cup in 1994, they argued the stadiums could never be filled, yet to this day that tournament holds the record for highest overall and per-match attendance. Higher, in other words, than Brazil, France and Germany.

Dominance in the women’s game has provided a significant boost to credibility over the years. The “soccer moms” narrative continues to hold weight at the youth level, but the children of these soccer moms are rapidly becoming more sophisticated fans of the game, helping the MLS put pressure on baseball as a summer spectator sport.

Highlights for the men’s side have recurred sporadically, including a famous victory over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup, Landon Donovan’s late winner over Algeria in the subsequent year’s World Cup, and a heroic performance in defeat to Belgium at last year’s tournament in Brazil.

Along the way, Major League Soccer evolved. A “retirement league” they initially called it. Then David Beckham happened. Then Thierry Henry came and now Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, David Villa and Kaka. 

More recently, the FBI taking a sword to FIFA arguably hasn’t hurt the US squad’s popularity in many European markets. Right when England and UEFA’s rebellions were struck down by Sepp Blatter’s power, the FBI leapt in and arrested top FIFA officials. Amid FIFA’s darkest hour, after Sepp Blatter was absurdly re-elected for his fifth term, the FBI’s investigations forced him to step down, hopefully to catalyze an eventual rebirth of the organization.

Then on Friday the US faced the Netherlands — indeed a squad that closely resembled their 2014 World Cup semifinal starting lineup. The US came back from behind to win 4-3. When Stanford student Jordan Morris set up 1860 Munich forward Bobby Wood to score, US fans had created another moment, even if it occurred in a meaningless post-season friendly.

Then today, the US beat World Cup winners Germany, whose squad included half of their World Cup team. Once again, Wood scored a late winner, and once again, it was a post-season (for the Europeans) friendly, but the US showed an abundance of passion and drive, mirroring that of their emerging fanbase, and that was enough to bridge the gap in talent on the day. “They always believe, the Americans. Nothing is impossible,” the British commentators reiterated during today’s friendly with Germany.

So to recap, the USWMT beat Australia on Monday and remain top-two favorites in the World Cup. FIFA investigation underway? Check. Sepp Blatter out? Check. Beat Netherlands? Check. Beat Germany? Check. In the world of “soccer” the US is on a run, suddenly even a bit hip, the fans’ blaring voices increasingly respected. Americans fans have always stood out, but now maybe they’ll be appreciated for it. Or not.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.