America's Soccer Story
Yesterday
Soccer is an American game,
played here before
football, basketball, and hockey,
younger only than baseball.
In fits and starts from
the earliest games in the 1860's, soccer became a rich subculture hiding plainly in sight, present across the United States without attracting much attention, capturing the public's imagination, or addressing its economic, social, and cultural challenges.
Before the 1970s, few kids played the game, few coaches could teach it,
and soccer didn't matter to Americans.
Today
Developed first through mostly volunteer effort, American soccer today is a multibillion dollar sport, lifestyle and culture enterprise,
still emerging.
Nurtured in the twin cradles of school fields and ethnic sporting clubs, American soccer has grown from adolescence into young adulthood.
In 1960, American soccer lacked professional capacity, infrastructure, and durable investment required to generate inspirational play for national audiences.
Even 20 years ago there was little money fueling the new strategy for national
growth. Now, American pro leagues and NT quality of play, for women and men alike, are in the early years of a quantum leap forward.
Tomorrow
What happens next in
America’s Soccer Story?
An underdog game that few people thought would become a major American sport, soccer and its people are meeting that goal and now face new challenges —
Will all Americans find access plus excellent experiences throughout their life with the game?
Will American women continue to conquer the world and g mature generate mature pro leagues?
Will USMNTs and men's pro leagues achieve world class play?
STORIES
People
Americans began playing soccer soon after our Civil War, yet by 1970 hardly anyone in the States knew the game.
Today American soccer is
a multibillion dollar sport, lifestyle and culture for 15 million players and 80 millions fans.
ASC presents the people who made it happen and how they did it.
Places
Countless stories emerge speaking with builders across the US.
On the way and back from interviews, ASC learns soccer history on location and documents a remarkable range of events.
150,000+ miles on highways and back roads to be where American soccer lives —
still miles to go before we sleep.
Plots
Soccer took 130 years to capture the American public's attention.
Our story follows builders through sporting clubs, schools, teams, and organizations, tracing changes in public perception and social relevance as the US learns the game while generating infrastructure and investment.
ARCHIVES
Documents
Books, news reports, institutional documents, personal notes, and other materials illuminate the events, people, money, circumstances, and perceptions shaping American soccer.
Images
Photographs and images dating to the 1860s trace American soccer from its birth alongside the people, places, and events that changed the game's story.
Artifacts
Cups and Trophies, kits, stadia and grounds, clubhouses, posters, programs, and other artifacts bring to life critical soccer events, places and times.