by Matt - US Soccer Daily

The past couple months were aptly referred to as “The Summer of Soccer” by the top figures in American soccer, and for good reason. World Cup qualifiers, MLS play, the USMNT’s Confederations Cup run, the Gold Cup, and a slew of world-class clubs coming to the States for friendlies combined for one glorious summer for soccer fans. Soccer gained high levels of exposure unusual for a non-World Cup year, as ESPN and other outlets made a significant effort to cover the beautiful game. All of the coverage and competitions added to the growing population of soccer fans in the US, as many were captivated by a riveting (and very busy) couple of months.


Although more than a few fans were simply hopping on the bandwagon and had their curiosity fizzle soon after, it’s safe to say that a fair share have now developed a sincere interest in soccer in general that will last beyond this summer. Soccer is getting a little more respect on TV shows that at one point in time only mocked it if it was ever brought up (see: ESPN’s lineup from 5:00 to 6:00 on weekdays), and at the very least, the US National Team has drifted into the realm of relevance for the average sports fan. Americans have shown an appetite for top level soccer, as evidenced by the thousands and thousands of fans who packed stadiums all summer, and it’s safe to say that the sport has taken another huge stride towards mainstream acceptance over the past year.


But what if it was all pulled down by one awful week? Think about it: with just two matches to go, CONCACAF qualifying was as tight as possible. Most US fans expected a loss in Honduras; the actual result was really quite surprising for many. And the Costa Rica game was never going to be an easy one, even with the home fans behind the team (just look how the US struggled at home against El Salvador and Honduras). Sometimes a team just picks the wrong time to have a bad run. Imagine if the US slipped to fourth, played a two-legged playoff against a talented Uruguay team, and found themselves on the outside looking in of the World Cup party. All of a sudden, the momentum and interest that soccer had built up would have been dealt one huge blow.


In a year where soccer has gained unparalleled mainstream exposure in the US, the USMNT’s berth in the 2010 World Cup was the cherry on top. But if it weren’t for Conor Casey and Jonathan Bornstein (how often do I utter that phrase?), all of those small steps forward could have been given one huge push back. The average sports fan might not have been as interested in next summer’s tournament, knowing the US didn’t even make it. Some fans might have even used a failed qualification as evidence that the US just isn’t good enough and use that as a reason not to care. Others, meanwhile, might have been turned off from soccer altogether after giving it a chance this past summer. Even talented kids might decide to focus their athletic dreams on another sport. I don’t know how much of that would have actually happened; I might be exaggerating the hit soccer in the US would’ve taken. But there is no doubt that missing the World Cup would have been a very bad thing coming at a very inopportune time.


This thought ran through my mind constantly as qualifying came into the stretch run. I was afraid to actually vocalize out of fear that it might happen. Now that qualification is secure, though, I can talk about it knowing that we’ve already booked our ticket to South Africa. For fans like me who want to see the game succeed in the US at all levels, missing the World Cup would have been a nightmare. Thankfully, Bob Bradley and company got the job done, and we can all now breathe a sigh of relief.


But man…what if…