No Hands Allowed: Why Soccer Is Taking Over The States
An ancient sport pressures NFL, NBA, and MLB for America’s future
Can you imagine a world where sports fans skip an NFL playoff game to attend a regular-season soccer match?
What if I told you that in the future it is not only possible but imminent?
Just three weeks ago, Lionel Messi, the greatest soccer player in the history of the sport, announced his decision to play in the United States. Having the whole world at his feet.
With the ability to transfer to practically any team on the planet, he chose our soccer-numb, baseball-loving nation. Many argue that his decision to play in sunny Miami for a mind-blowing salary (working under ex-soccer legend David Beckham) was for an early retirement and amateur, “playground” soccer.
While Messi has denied these claims, I’ve always thought the debate was insignificant. Who cares why or how he comes to play? All that matters is that he’s here, and he’s already making waves in the realm of U.S. sports.
For starters, ticket prices to see him in action with Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer are already rivaling Taylor Swift concert prices– and unlike Swift’s shows, Messi is not even required to appear every time.
It may seem like a ripoff, which is why I’m choosing to save my Taylor Swift and Messi money for next year when the acclaimed Copa América tournament — basically the Olympics of South American soccer — will be hosted here in our country. Or maybe I’ll wait for 2026, when the biggest sports tournament on the planet arrives — yes, the FIFA World Cup is coming here.
Like I said, soccer’s taking over the United States.
With a younger generation more reluctant to pay money for longer, drawn-out games of baseball and football, many sports fans have already jumped on the soccer bandwagon. Attendance at soccer matches is growing exponentially as more teams join Major League Soccer, the U.S. men’s professional soccer league that rivals European leagues in terms of quality.
Not to mention our neighbors to the South are some of the most passionate footballing fans in the world, making United States-Mexico international games legendary rivalry matchups. I witnessed the excitement firsthand in Nevada, where I cheered on the Red, White & Blue amidst a sea of Green & White Mexico fans… as well as flying beer and intra-fan brawls.
Not to say that all games are that hectic. For years I’ve been visiting my local club LAFC, which houses the passionate 3252 supporters group (named after the 3,252 seat capacity in the North End of the stadium) and the coolest Black & Gold color theme in American sports.
The club accepts and highlights fans of all backgrounds and identities, has featured Dodgers/Rams nights, and, oh, the team also plays pretty darn wellI don’t want to convert you to soccer-ism, nor do I wish to suggest that any other sport is going away (as a very avid Lakers fan myself, I would hate that).
I do hope to encourage you to see that soccer is growing and deserves a seat at the table alongside baseball, football, and basketball. As Apple TV’s Ted Lasso character Dani Rojas says, “Fútbol is Life.” And it can be, even here in the States.
Might as well attend a local match and say you were a soccer fan before it takes over.
Thanks for reading my story! You can read more about the beautiful game here: https://medium.com/@gianlombeyda
Let me know what you think about the developing football world in the comments!
