Though the United States has been long gone from this year’s World Cup tournament after losing to Ghana in the Round of 16, some fans on campus are still hopeful for soccer’s future in America.
“This time, they (the United States) raised a lot more attention,” said Edit Beluli, senior in Engineering. “They got people watching.”
Others also recall the United States’ performance in the group stage as inspiring.
“It was cool to see all of the Americans pumped about soccer, especially since I am a Brazilian,” said Thomas Cullen, junior in Media.
Two teams now remain in the tournament, with soccer powerhouses Spain and the Netherlands having won their semifinal matches earlier this week. Neither side has ever won the World Cup, meaning their meeting in Sunday’s final will result in a brand new champion.
Despite the absence of the United States in the later stages of the World Cup, recent Engineering graduate Syed Imaad believes soccer has enough stars to keep casual sports fans watching.“I believe there are still many people watching the World Cup, especially since star-studded teams like Spain, Germany and the Netherlands made it to the final four,” Imaad said.
In the meantime, the United States now has to wait another four years to try and make a bigger splash in the next World Cup, held in Brazil. Whether a large number of soccer’s newest followers will continue watching the sport until then remains to be seen.
“I would expect soccer to be popular here in the U.S., considering how well the team has performed over the years,” Imaad said. “But that simply is not the case.”
Imaad cited other popular sports, such as college football, as reasons why there may not be enough room for soccer in U.S. sports coverage. He suggested that more broadcasts of soccer matches in popular European leagues and a more competitive U.S. soccer league could help increase viewership and popularity.
Beluli said the heavy World Cup coverage on ESPN has been an encouraging sign.
“With ESPN covering everything, it makes soccer seem more important,” he said.
Cullen said he believes there was an interest in soccer even before the World Cup started.
“One thing I know for sure is that soccer is on the climb here,” Cullen said.
For now, though, any U.S. fans watching the World Cup will have to get behind one of the two teams left standing.
“I’m supporting Spain,” Imaad said. “They are a force to reckon with.”