This past weekend, Will Leitch from the Daily Intelligencer wrote a piece, “Is 2014 the Year Soccer in America (Truly) Goes Mainstream?”

We think so and Leitch agrees:

“Look, I know: Every four years, someone comes around telling you that this is the year, really, for real, that soccer breaks through in America. (Grantland’s popular Men in Blazers podcast’s motto is “Driven by the belief that soccer is America’s Sport of the Future. As it has been since 1972.”) But this time I mean it: Soccer is about to explode in America, and the U.S. soccer team is an indie band right before they break out. It’s hipster patriotism.”

While being an “indie band right before they break out” may not sound like the finest form of glamour, it is the most desirable position for a band of this genre to be in, which is where we believe Leitch is coming from when drawing this comparison.

While a musician’s goal is to be heard, in many cases, bands that fall under the indie and alternative genres aren’t known for directly acknowledging this vision, it’s more often seen as something that just organically falls into place as a result from following their passion of playing music (HA).

At the same time, an early stage indie band isn’t going to say no to playing at SXSW or Coachella. And when they do, their “true” fans are going to be in the front row bragging to their pseudo hipster friends, “Well I knew them when they played at (insert name of grungy Brooklyn bar).” Indie fans are stereotypically known for admiring these under the radar acts, which is why the point before the band makes it is even more significant than the break out itself.

Leitch is dead on in comparing US soccer fandom to “hipster patriotism.” These are the fans that are emotionally involved and dedicated, a level of devotion that isn’t consistently seen across all sports.

Nothing seems to be previously instilled on these soccer fans, their appetite and support for the game is true love, something that can’t be altered or toned down because it’s the real thing. They were there for the United States national team before they got into the 2014 World Cup and they’ll be there for them after. The same way Mumford and Sons’ fans were there, jammed in upstairs rooms of packed pubs to their first performance at The Garden.