There is probably no issue more maddening for those of us that live and die with the US National Team than that of Americans who willfully choose to support someone else. Often, these Americans living in America support the team of their parents, or extend identifying with some aspect of their ancestry to backing another national team.
When "defending" the USMNT, or discussing a soccer culture that breeds so many of these fans, it's easy to fall into the trap of generalizing. Each person who chooses say, England over the USA is doing so for their own personal reasons; even if I'd have an opinion as to why they might be doing so, I might be unfairly shoe-horning them into a group to which they don't actually belong.
And let's be clear here. It is anyone and everyone's right to root for whomever they choose; there are no laws or rules which bar rooting for a nation other than the one in which you hold citizenship. Doing so doesn't, by itself, make anyone a "bad person", worthy of hatred, name-calling, or worse. But there are some unwritten "rules of fandom" being broken by anyone forsaking a team they have an actual connection with for one that might be better, sexier, or more historically relevant. Hard, fast, and important in any meaningful sense? No. Part of the sports culture, and therefore elemental to the discussion? Definitely.
Beyond questions of whether or not it's "right" to root for another country if you were born in the US, live in the US, and self-identify as American - without the complication of being first- (or maybe) second-generation - we come to the role of "patriotism" in supporting the US National Team. By simple logic, it would seem to make sense that being patriotic is part and parcel of rooting for a team representing the country; but do we really have to be flag-waving, bleed red-white-and-blue, rah rah Americans to support the USA on the soccer field?
Perhaps the issue is what exactly "patriotism" means these days. In an America going through a serious identity crisis, one that has sharply divided us politically and fractured the nation along party lines to unprecedented extremes, the word, and the various expressions of it, have become politicized themselves. Somehow being a "proud American", flying the flag, and defending the country in the face of (both valid and questionable) criticism without reservation has become inextricably linked to the political Right; like or not, that does have some implications to the US National Team. Those that find such things, which they might view as exclusionary and jingoistic, distasteful would logically be turned off to expressions of national pride in the world of sports. There should be a clear separation of the two, but that's likely outside of reasonable expectation.
Supporting a national team should not be taken as support for a government, national policy, political party, specific way of life or anything else outside of the game itself, just as love of country does not necessarily imply complete support of those same things. Dissent and patriotism are not mutually exclusive.
Let's also not confuse "patriotism" with "nationalism"; in a modern context, the former should be about pride and love of country without political slant, while the latter is a much more insidious and exclusionary concept built on putting the interests of one's nation about those of all others. If there must be a connection between either of the two narrowly-separated ideas and soccer, than let it be the type of patriotism that does not carry additional baggage.
Does a national team represent the people or the government? Can a people love their national team, wave the flag, and express their passion while hating those in power or the policies they maintain?
The world is a much smaller place these days, thanks to technology and air travel. This means the lines of nationality are blurred, that the concept of community crosses borders, and that for some rooting for another national team is less a question of citizenship than it is of appreciation. When shared language is in play, influences are heavy and connections easily formed. The black and white formula of "if you're American, root for America" is no longer applicable, and the use of words like "traitor" is irresponsible, unfair, and dangerous. Loyalty lies where it is freely given, and no one can be forced to root for anyone because some self-appointed arbiter decides they should.
That doesn't mean we, meaning Americans who passionately support the US National team, have to like it. It doesn't mean criticism, based on an understanding of individual justification whatever it may be, can't be dished out within certain limits. Not that the Americans supporters others will or should care, of course.
So carry on, you Yank fans of England, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, etc. You're more than welcome to root for whomever you choose, even as I believe you're missing out, acting in a "plastic" manner, or denying real connections for manufactured ones. Maybe "fake" is too far...maybe not.
The temptation to paint in broad strokes, on both sides of the question, is powerful, and even while I do so as lightly as possible (paragraph above - likely a failure), I know it's unfair to castigate anyone for making a personal choice that doesn't happen to coincide with my own. Part of what makes me a patriot is recognizing that hateful rejection of a freely made choice is exactly counter to the American ideals I celebrate.
No hate, just the expression of my right to say, as a fellow soccer fan, "You suck".
Now let's go grab a beer.
Trust me when I say that I realize what I'm opening myself up to whenever I broach this subject. Too often, people are blinded by assumptions made; if I want Americans to be fans of the USMNT, and think they should be, I must be a intolerant jingoistic monster with a closed mind and hateful attitude. Already, people have taken shots, due to this discussion beginning on Twitter, both directly and indirectly. This subject is perfect fodder for those who try entirely too hard to be clever while ignoring any nuanced argument that doesn't fit the "intolerant flag waver" label applied to me. That's fine, and they're obviously within their rights, just as any of you are that would like to take issue in the comments. Short of unproductive name-calling, I'm happy to take criticism.
This piece just scratches the surface of all of the issues involved, and is ultimately a poor attempt to explore them. Questions of identity, cultural aspiration, elitism, a collective complex of inferiority, and more play into Americans dissociating from American soccer entities. Maybe we'll take a look at those down the road...but probably not.
And I would be remiss if I didn't not admit the a lot (most?) of the angst felt by US fans caused by Americans supporting others (ASOs?) is based on the small size of the community. We probably wouldn't care so much if millions and millions of Americans were rooting on the USA every time they played.
