BenBella Books

American Soccer Nation - Mark C Franek

Soccer is the most popular game in the world, but does it truly belong in the heart of American sports culture? The answer is a resounding yes - and the 150-year journey of elite men''s soccer in the US is filled with drama, surprises, reversals, and triumphs that rival any world-class match. With meticulous research and lifelong passion, Mark C Franek delivers a fast-paced, foundational soccer book that also serves as a celebration of American soccer. This book is a must-have for all fans, players, parents, coaches, and professionals across the sport. In brisk, punchy prose that moves in a confident tiki-taka style, Franek explores The soccer-like games played by Native Americans long before the arrival of Europeans; How organized soccer predates gridiron football, started in American colleges, and was carried forward by immigrant communities; Why soccer has always been more inclusive and immigrant-friendly than other professional sports; The rise and fall of the original ASL and the Golden Age of American soccer; America''s Olympic and World Cup highs and lows dating back to the early 20th century; Soccer''s growing popularity today, from MLS and USL to elite youth academies; The accordion-like journey of the USMNT over the past 40 years, leading to the USA''s co-hosting of the 2026 World Cup; A roadmap for how the US can go from good to great on the international stage - based on firsthand accounts from professional athletes and experts in the sport. With forewords by Cavan Sullivan and Tim Howard, American Soccer Nation is the definitive text affirming that the US really is a soccer nation.

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