For too long, men’s soccer looked like a left-handed portrait. It was interesting, but awkward to watch without heavy doses of scoring and violence.
There were bursts of popularity, like in 1994 and 2002, followed by apathy.
But as legendary Colorado Rapids and international player Marcelo Balbo watched the U.S. men’s national team host Belgium in Seattle on Monday, he saw the indifference turn into something different.
The game drew a record 50.1 million viewers across Fox Sports and Telemundo. It was the highest-rated non-NFL sporting event on American Television since the Winter Olympics in 1994.
Futbol became football. At least in the eyes of the consumer.
“We didn’t take full advantage of the opportunity. Our expectations for the team were to reach the quarterfinals, and they fell short. But you saw the excitement all over the country and how many people supported them,” Balboa told The Post. “It definitely has staying power. You have (50) million viewers, you are doing something right.”
Balboa served as a standout defensive player for the USMNT in the 1990s. And he brings a unique perspective. He was the first American player to reach 100 international appearances.
So, miss him with talk that soccer is going to fade back into the darkness. He does not believe that.
But he also knows that more is needed for the interest to become more deeply rooted. He was a bit offended when he saw the raucous atmosphere in Seattle and at watch parties across the country, and still broadcasters felt the need to ask Americans to keep tuning in after the U.S. team was eliminated.
“You will know things have really changed when we stop saying things like that. No one is going to stop watching the World Cup. If the Broncos get knocked out of the playoffs, are people going to not watch the Super Bowl?” Balboa said. “Of course not.”
Balboa hopes that, as Americans experience the beautiful game on the biggest stage and see the traditions and cultures of other countries, their passion will remain even when the stakes are lower.
“You want it to translate into supporting the local team in the MLS. That’s how we keep growing soccer,” Balboa said. “But we need to start bringing in bigger names and have bigger TV rights.”
One question that hung in the air like an anvil after Belgium skunked the USMNT 4-1: Why are the American men not better at soccer? Why can’t they become a power?
“You have to understand that in every other country, soccer is the No. 1 sport. It has been passed from generation to generation. We are about 30 years in now. It’s going to take a little time to build that up,” Balboa said. “When I was born (as the son of Argentinian immigrants), I was given a soccer ball. And I had every other father try to give me a basketball or baseball. When you are born in Denver, you are given an orange Broncos jersey. When we get to the point where that is a Rapids shirt or USMNT jersey, you will know it has changed.”
The next step in judging progress? The U.S. is considering bidding to host another Men’s World Cup.
“We will find out in 2038, and see how much things have changed,” Balboa said. “I am not going to beat the U.S. team up. We keep talking about this as the golden generation and they haven’t lived up to it. It may have been our most talented team, but not our best team. But everybody, including myself, wants to see this team succeed and this sport succeed.”
College fodder: CU’s Deion Sanders can talk all he wants about winning and how this year’s team will be different. But the reality is that the issues go beyond talent. Players on the roster and many who have left have raised concerns about the lack of coaching. This season represents a watershed moment to show things have changed with Sanders’ staff, especially offensively.
Final Thought: The Nuggets’ offseason is becoming sadder by the minute. No LeBron James, and uncertainty hangs over Peyton Watson’s future. It sure feels like another year of Nikola Jokic’s prime is going to be wasted.
