Soccer in America
For generations, millions of American children have grown up playing soccer, making the sport a familiar part of communities across the country and even giving rise to the ubiquitous phrase “soccer mom.” Yet despite its enormous popularity at the youth level, soccer has long competed with football, baseball, and basketball for a place at the center of American sports culture.
In 2026, the FIFA World Cup returned to the United States for the first time since 1994, with the U.S. joining Canada and Mexico as hosts of the largest World Cup in history. The tournament brought unprecedented attention to the sport at a moment when professional soccer, international competition, and grassroots participation are all reshaping its place in American life.
Has soccer in America reached a turning point? What will it take for the sport to translate generations of youth participation into lasting professional and cultural prominence? Our panel will explore the past, present, and future of soccer in the United States—and consider whether America is finally becoming a true soccer nation.
Panel
- Kirk Wessler – Special Advisor, Sports History
- Josh Bellamy – Peoria City Soccer
- Rep. Darin LaHood – Chair, Congressional Soccer Caucus
- Brian Remedi – Former Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. Soccer Federation
- Bill Conger – Chief Curator and Former Soccer Coach