After an exciting and promising showing from the US in last years World Cup and Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player of all time playing in the US, it’s an exciting time to be an American Soccer fan. But the rise of soccer in the US is just starting. The Mens Fifa World Cup 2026 and Copa America 2024 is coming to the US. Back in 2018 the US won the draw to host the World cup and as a recently as last year we won the draw again to host next year’s Copa America. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (but claimed by New York) and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia were both selected as host cities for both major tournaments. Both stadiums met requirements for both events and Met Life could potentially hold the World Cup final as well. For the existence of the sport the US has never valued soccer as much as the majority of the world does. But, the growth in both the MLS (the professional soccer league in America) and the US men’s team has been significantly increasing in talent and popularity recently.
Having the biggest tournament in the world coming to our area is exciting for tons of soccer fans in the area. According to Dylan Pino a soccer player and high schooler at Cherokee High School, “The upcoming international tournaments the US is hosting is really exciting for me. We have always been a couple steps behind major international powerhouses in Europe and South America but with these recent growth and hosting the world cup we are starting to close that gap”
Gok Deniz, a soccer player for Delran, said, “Living in this area with these upcoming tournaments Philly and North Jersey will be hosting its really exciting for me and other soccer fans in the area. Within the next couple of years I’m excited to see the growth and honestly just see firsthand the atmosphere that World Cup and Copa America bring to the host community.”
Also the USMNT had the youngest average age in last year’s World Cup with an average age of 23.82 with the next closest being Ghana at 25.67. The expectations and potential for the team are high for the coming year but especially when playing on home turf. With star and local players like Brendan Aaroson from Medford New Jersey, Matt Turner from Park Ridge, New Jersey and Christian Pulisic from Hershey, Pennsylvania the Delaware Valley is going to be ecxited.
