Soccer in America

The official, definitive, and unique celebration of a century of achievement in U.S. soccer. With one of the fastest-growing domestic leagues in the world and national teams asserting their presence on an international stage—and the U.S. womens’ team taking the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic games—American soccer is at a peak. Opening its archives for the first time, the U.S. Soccer Federation takes us on a visual journey, from the introduction of the beautiful game a century ago in the amateur leagues of towns in the industrial northeast to soccer’s dominance as the fastest-growing sport across America today. This book is illustrated with remarkable and rarely seen mementos, from vintage portraits of the first national teams in the 1920s to game programs, ticket stubs, jerseys, and exciting pictures of today’s and past stars in action. With contributions from stars spanning generations of American soccer, including firsthand testimonies from coaches and players themselves, the book profiles the most talented players of the men’s and women’s national teams over the decades, looks at the coaches who have changed the game, celebrates the most memorable moments and unforgettable goals, and chronicles the U.S.’s greatest achievements, from the World Cup to the Olympics.

The United States Soccer Federation is the national governing body of soccer. Founded in 1913 in New York, it has gone on to oversee dozens of regional leagues and several national leagues, host the World Cup in the United States in 1994, and establish the multimillion dollar MLS that is the backbone of club soccer in America today.