The upcoming World Cup match between co-hosts the United States and Australia, taking place in Seattle, is often depicted as a fierce rivalry laden with animosity. However, a deeper examination reveals a more complex relationship between the two football communities.
Last year’s friendly encounter between the teams hinted at the intensity of their competition, which now builds towards a pivotal match in the group stage to determine the leader of Group D.
For both nations, harboring hatred for the other would ultimately equate to self-loathing. As the teams prepare for this thrilling showdown, the contest also reflects the unique position each country holds in the global football landscape, where the sport often resides in the background.
This match is not merely a contest but a lesson in understanding. Aiden O’Neill, midfielder for the Socceroos and New York City FC, recognizes that football does not command the same reverence in the US as it does in other parts of the globe. He observed, “[Soccer in the US] is similar to Australia, it’s starting to change here in America,”
In Australia, the AFL and NRL overshadow soccer during the winter, while cricket takes the summer spotlight. Conversely, the US is dominated by American football, basketball, and baseball.
John Shea, an experienced sports journalist now with the San Francisco Standard, highlighted another shared characteristic.
“You’ve got some massive other sports, but I think it’s starting to grow in popularity.”
According to the National Sporting Goods Association, over 7 million Americans aged 7 to 17 played soccer in 2025, making it second only to basketball, which appeals more to casual players. This positions soccer as the leading choice among organized sports.
In Australia, the sport boasts approximately 850,000 participants under the age of 17, surpassing basketball by about 300,000 and ranking just behind swimming, based on data from the Ausplay survey conducted by the government.
Bernardo Ramallo, involved with the non-profit Soccer Without Borders in the San Francisco Bay Area, pointed out that young soccer players in the US have historically faced mockery from peers in other sports. He recounted, “It’s one of the great oddities in this country,”
Noelle Shaw, a soccer enthusiast from Oakland and former junior goalkeeper, expressed her belief that the sport deserves more recognition in the US. “It’s the number one participation sport among boys and girls, yet in the high school ranks, it’s not as popular as [American] football, basketball, and even baseball.”
Ramallo, who engages in social initiatives for recent migrants and refugees, noted that the youth involved in US soccer are increasingly diverse. “Growing up there’s been jokes saying, like, ‘soccer is weak, [American] football’s a real sport’,” he stated. “I grew up in Virginia, which is in the south – which is very different to California – it was always ‘soccer is a girls’ sport’, because of the success of the 1990s and Mia Hamm.”
Edreece Arghandiwal, co-founder of the Oakland Roots in the USL, is optimistic about soccer’s potential for growth in America. Established in 2018, the club draws an average of 6,000 fans per match. “Soccer is a hard sport, and I don’t think a lot of people realise that to run back and forth on that field for 90 minutes, no time-outs, no anything, that takes a different level of grit and drive.” he remarked. “Soccer has always been the first sport that many children play,”
Shea, who has been involved in sports media since the aftermath of USA ’94, relishes the excitement surrounding the current World Cup but remains skeptical about its potential to induce lasting change. “But as well, now, it’s a lot of immigrants, people that come from Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, African countries, and they come here and they bring that love, that craziness, that support, so it’s a nice mix.” he explained.
He likens the World Cup excitement to the surge of interest seen during the Olympics, which may temporarily boost attention for sports like gymnastics or track and field before Americans revert to their traditional preferences. “America is a very diverse place, especially here in Oakland,” he lamented. “Soccer belongs here, it always has been here, it just needs the right vehicles, the right voices, the right stories to get to the minds and hearts of people and I think we’re trying to do that here at the club.”
The anticipated match between the US and Australia on Friday will not only showcase the teams’ performances following their World Cup openers but also prompt reflection on the intricate relationship between the two nations. This includes discussions around the Aukus defense agreement, President Trump’s legacy, and the trend of many Americans shifting focus from global issues to domestic concerns.
Media figures like Alexi Lalas have stirred controversy with their remarks about Australia’s Socceroos. Shaw, gathering with friends at a tailgate before a Roots game, expressed her hope that Australian fans would not harbor resentment towards Americans. ‘94. He is enjoying the current World Cup, but is not sure whether it will trigger structural change. “I’ she asserted.
Ramallo emphasized the underlying similarities that should be celebrated. “Which is blasphemy when I hear from all these other countries where soccer is absolutely number one, you get a taxi or an Uber and all they do is talk about soccer,”
