Forget the manufactured hostility surrounding the World Cup clash between co-hosts the United States and Australia in Seattle. The match, set to determine the winner of Group D, has been hyped as the latest chapter in a heated rivalry. However, for the football communities in both nations, hating each other means hating themselves. This contest serves as a mirror for two unusual footballing countries where the world’s most popular sport remains on the periphery.
A Shared Sporting Landscape
Socceroos midfielder Aiden O’Neill, who plays for New York City FC, understands the similar status of soccer in both countries. “It’s similar to Australia,” he says. “It’s starting to change here in America. You’ve got massive other sports, but it’s growing in popularity.” In Australia, the AFL and NRL dominate winter sports, while cricket leads in summer. In the US, American football, basketball, and baseball reign supreme.
John Shea, a longtime sports writer for the San Francisco Standard, notes another parallel: “It’s the number one participation sport among boys and girls, yet in high school, it’s not as popular as football, basketball, or baseball.” According to the National Sporting Goods Association, over 7 million Americans aged 7 to 17 played soccer in 2025, second only to basketball in participation but leading in organized sport. In Australia, football had about 850,000 participants aged 17 and under, behind only swimming, according to the government’s Ausplay survey.
Overcoming Stigma
Bernardo Ramallo, who works with Soccer Without Borders in the San Francisco Bay Area, recalls taunts faced by young soccer players. “Growing up, there were jokes like ‘soccer is weak, football’s a real sport’,” he says. “In Virginia, it was always ‘soccer is a girls’ sport’ because of the success of the 1990s and Mia Hamm.” Noelle Shaw, a former junior goalkeeper from Oakland, believes soccer doesn’t get the respect it deserves. “Soccer is hard. Running back and forth for 90 minutes with no time-outs takes a different level of grit.”
Ramallo sees soccer as a sport for younger and more diverse communities. “Soccer has always been the first sport many children play. Now, it’s also immigrants from Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, African countries who bring that love and craziness.” Edreece Arghandiwal, co-founder of Oakland Roots in the USL, believes in soccer’s growth potential. “America is diverse, especially Oakland. Soccer belongs here; it just needs the right vehicles and stories to reach people’s hearts.”
Will the World Cup Change Things?
Shea, who worked in sports media after USA ’94, enjoys the current World Cup but doubts structural change. “I’ve heard that narrative every few years for decades. Soccer hasn’t emerged as a top-three sport in viewing. I’m not sure it will.” He compares the World Cup buzz to the Olympics, which draws short-term interest before Americans return to established habits. “In other countries, soccer is number one. Here, I don’t think it ever will be.”
The match on Friday local time is highly anticipated after both teams won their World Cup openers. It also reflects the close but complicated US-Australia relationship, amid uncertainty over the Aukus defense deal and President Trump’s record. Shaw, speaking at a tailgate, hopes Australian fans won’t hate Americans. “Sports are meant to unify us.” Ramallo adds, “Beer, drinking, laughs, jokes – there shouldn’t be hatred. It should be a giant party.”
