I never dreamed I’d say this: suddenly, I miss the pageantry, athletic skills, the excitement and the flops of soccer.
The just-completed World Cup promised to make new fans in the United States. It certainly made one out of me. Even after the U.S. team was eliminated in the Round of 16, I watched. Much like when I became a fan of the WNBA the year before Caitlin Clark was drafted by Indiana. I learned that the perception that soccer was boring kept me from enjoying something new.
From now on, I will give something a chance before I ignorantly choose to dislike it.
Spain clearly was a worthy champion. The longer their championship match against Argentina went without a score, the more you started to believe Argentina was going to pull the upset.
Then Ferran Torres side-footed a header by Nico Williams into the back of the net early in the second period of extra time to secure the victory for Spain.
Then the party started as Argentinian soccer icon Lionel Messi watched hopelessly from midfield.
America was clearly hooked, even after the U.S. team was bounced. The championship game was on 62.8 million televisions in the nation – 39 million on Fox and 24 million U.S. viewers on Telemundo. Compared to the 2022 Games, the Spain-Argentina game represented a 132% increase for Fox and a 166% increase for Telemundo.
Worldwide, the championship game was watched by 1.42 billion, according to FIFA, and it was the most-watched match in Spanish-language media history.
“Ted Lasso” was an introduction of soccer for a lot of us. The World Cup then took that introduction to make fans out of people like me.
The opening match against Paraguay set a United States TV record with 18 million viewers. That grew to 26.4 million in victories against Bosnia and Herzegovina, only to be beaten again on July 6 when 37.2 million watched the national team lose to Belgium.
But America stayed tuned. The Mexico-England game was watched by 46.7 million.
We smiled when thousands of Norway fans did the Viking Row in Times Square and in the stands. We cheered for France’s Kylian Mbappé, who won the Golden Boot for scoring 10 goals, Norway’s big man Erling Haaland, Messi, Argentina’s goalie Emi Hernandez, who had a Finals record 11 saves, England’s Jude Bellingham and tournament MVP Rodri of Spain.
A big part of the success was our country’s fascination with social media posts and podcasts by our foreign visitors. They loved the little things we take for granted, like Buc-ee’s, a late-night stop at Waffle House, grocery stores, extra-large soft drinks, Texas barbecue and macaroni and cheese, ranch dressing, yellow school buses, drive-thrus, military flyovers, the menu at Wendy’s and, most importantly, air conditioning.
Freddy from Germany posted about eating at Waffle House at 1 a.m. He said the hash brown bowl was like fine dining. That post was viewed by seven million readers. His site instantly gained 400,000 followers.
A fan from Scotland said barbecue and mac and cheese were now on his all-time favorite list.
Soccer must seize the opportunity to remain relevant in the States. The sport has my attention. Now they need to keep it. Because of “Ted Lasso,” I’m interested in the Premier League. Because of the World Cup, I’m ready to watch Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League, the National Independent Soccer Association and the National and United Premier soccer leagues.
Jacksonville Armada FC, which will join the MLS Next Pro league next year, and the Sporting Club Jacksonville women’s team of the Gainbridge Super League have a new fan in me.
Just don’t lose the momentum The World Cup afforded you.
