Soccer balls. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — The Men’s National Team is still alive in World Cup action.
But will watching America’s best affect how children across the country view the game?
Scarlett Underwood started playing soccer at six years old. At nine, she joined Wisconsin United FC to play competitively.
What took soccer from being a hobby to a passion? Meeting one of the U.S. women’s young stars, Trinity Rodman.
“It was really cool to like be able to ask her like ‘How’d you fall in love with the game?’ and it was really cool to hear like she kind of started watching the World Cup when she was younger and she started liking it So, I think that’s kind of where I started liking soccer more,” said Underwood.
Not every kid in the US is lucky enough to meet one of the country’s soccer stars. Will there be a similar effect from simply watching them on TV?
“After the ’94 World Cup that was in the United States, you saw some leagues start to develop here, more professional atmosphere within the sport and within the country after that. I think the impact is going to be felt in the next few years,” said Quinn Ross, FC Green Bay Director of Coaching.
Ross added that’s especially true if the Americans keep winning.
He said, “The average American fan is going to get excited and want to back a winner. The average fan is going to get on board and then they’re going to see the passion that the rest of the world has for the sport. I mean, I think it’s the greatest sport in the world.”
Research done just before the World Cup by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association says outdoor soccer participation grew by nearly 16% in the U.S. from 2024-2025. Its report also shows participation growth in the host nations of the last three World Cup tournaments.
Underwood has been watching the U.S. men in the World Cup and encourages everyone to watch too.
“Even if you don’t play it’s just fun to watch. We try to watch any games that we can and normally the coaches would be like ‘if you get any chance to watch the players, like, watch what they’re doing because they’re professionals,'” said Underwood.
It may take years to know whether this tournament has inspired a generation to represent the United States on soccer’s biggest stage and if Underwood, will be one of them.
The United States will play Belgium in the Round of 16 Monday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on FOX 11.
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