SPORTS 11

Thursday, August 15, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Fans at the Big House share thoughts on state of U.S. soccer

The pregame festivities ahead 
of Saturday’s friendly between 
FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli 
was vastly different than most 
tailgates at Michigan Stadium. 
International 
music 
echoed 
throughout the parking lots as 
people from all over the country 
prepared to see some of the 
world’s most talented soccer 
players.
But for the magnitude of the 
teams playing, the number of fans 
in attendance was a relatively 
mere 60,000, filling just over half 
of the seats at Michigan Stadium.
One of the main purposes of 
the 
International 
Champions 
Cup is to improve the following 
of soccer in America and the 
audience’s demographic showed 
that it’s clearly working — some 
were from as far as Texas and 
North Carolina. 
“It’s 
crazy 
because 
these 
teams barely come and you have 
to see these teams over there in 
their country,” said Javier from 
Chicago. “For them to come here, 
it’s kinda like, you know what, 
one-time opportunity, you gotta 
take it and come to the game and 
just enjoy it.”
But these fans who traveled to 
get the chance to watch premier 
soccer grew up in countries 
whose cultures idolized soccer 
— Poland, Honduras, Mexico, 
Costa Rica and more. They were 
raised around the sport and treat 
it like Americans might baseball 
or football.
Since the turn of the century, 
the United States 
men’s soccer team 
has 
repeatedly 
failed to position 
itself 
as 
World 
Cup 
contender. 
The 
MLS 
has 
grown, but still 
finds 
itself 
a 
league where the 
biggest names are 
already past their 
prime 
and 
the 
best young players don’t stay for 
long. And though the women’s 
national soccer team has won the 
last two World Cups, the sport 
finds itself as an afterthought to 
American football, basketball, 
and baseball.
“I don’t want to say it’s 
humiliating, but I want to say 
that it’s a reminder of what we 

could (be) if we decide to allocate 
our resources the right way,” said 
Parker from Washington D.C. 
who got into the sport through 
a college class. “I just feel like, 
I think we’re at a point in the 
narrative of professional sports 
where people are getting tired of 
football for a number of reasons 
that are all valid. And you’re 
going to see more kids getting 
access to soccer and traveling 
more and being more competitive 
at younger ages, so I think the 
future is bright, honestly.”
This sentiment was one that 
fans throughout the stadium 
shared.
“Soccer 
is 
drawing 
more 
fans as time goes by, but I think 
(American fans) are liking the 
star players here,” said Oscar, 
a 35-year FC Barcelona fan 
originally from Honduras. “They 
have the financial means to 
make it happen. But it’s just the 
way they do it that’s not really 
relevant. They’re bringing not-
quality players from overseas.
“It’s also just that the way they 
structure the (MLS) without 
relegation and stuff like that, 
doesn’t make it that competitive 
compared 
to 
the 
European 
leagues.”
Oscar brought up a valid 
point — bringing attention to 
the domestic league is a key 
component to increasing the 
fandom of the sport in America. 
However, the MLS struggled 
to get going in the first place, 
something 
many 
European 
leagues were devoid of, as it was 
just another shot at an American 
soccer 
league 
that 
became 
subject to a tight 
salary cap space 
due to previously 
failed attempts.
Now, 
with 
the MLS finally 
taking 
off 
and 
salary 
cap 
space 
being 
created, 
albeit 
at 
a 
relatively 
slow 
pace, 
the 
competition of the 
league is something that takes a 
lot more effort to change. Though 
the United Soccer League, or the 
USL, is sometimes considered to 
be a minor league to the MLS, 
it doesn’t receive the attention 
or respect that the English 
Championship receives as the 
next level down from the English 
Premier League, eliminating the 

current attempt at relegation. 
Moreover, MLS teams haven’t 
participated 
in 
international 
tournaments 
like 
European 
teams who get a shot at the UEFA 
Champions League every year. 
Such changes cannot be made 
during a single offseason, either, 
but they are definitely something 
to think about.
Javier, a 21-year-old who has 
played soccer for a majority of his 
life, offered a player’s perspective 
— 
though 
signing 
big-name 
players and increasing domestic 
competition 
is 
important, 
surrounding today’s youth with 
the right coaching staff is what 
will make soccer a staple in the 
United States. 
“I feel like the United States 
needs to bring the coaches from 
other countries to teach these 
young 
players,” 
Javier 
said. 
“Their playing style, their tactics. 
It’s a different type of soccer to 
develop.”
But the optimism remains 

present among these fans, and 
they think that events like the 
International Champions Cup 
combined with more attention 
to soccer players’ development 
is 
driving 
the 
sport’s 
growing 
popularity 
in 
America.
“I think soccer 
is growing (in the 
United 
States), 
and I think in 10 
years, 12 years, 
the US can win 
the World Cup,” 
said 
Rubin, 
another fan from 
Chicago. “I think the US is doing 
great with the minor league 
teams, if that’s what you want to 
call it. Kids nowadays, it’s such a 
diverse (talent pool) that they’re 
going to have a strong team. In 
8 years, they’re going to be one 
of the strongest teams in the 
world.”
Now, 
the 
expectations 

are 
slightly 
unrealistic 
considering that the country’s 
talent is nowhere near that of 
powerhouses like Germany and 
France. But the resources and 
spotlight are there 
for soccer to take 
off in the United 
States. Now, it’s 
up to the nation to 
focus on building 
a 
culture 
that 
treats soccer like 
a premier sport, 
similar 
to 
the 
countries 
where 
many 
of 
these 
fans come from. 
And it all starts with events like 
the 
International 
Champions 
Cup.
“I hope the people had a 
great match, that they enjoyed 
watching it,” said FC Barcelona 
midfielder Frenkie De Jong. “(I 
hope) that they got a bit inspired 
but it’s all up to their chance 
(now).”

ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
F.C. Barcelona fans share thoughts on the state of American soccer and the impact of international teams such as F.C. Barcelona on it.

AKUL VIJAYVARGIYA
Summer Managing Sports Editor

Soccer is 
drawing more 
fans as time 
goes by ...

I think in 10 
years, 12 years, 
the US can win 
the World Cup.

